CHINA - MING Dynasty (1368 - 1644), 16th century - Lot 89

CHINA - MING Dynasty (1368 - 1644), 16th century Large bronze statue with traces of gold and red lacquer of the Taoist deity Bixia Yuanjun (The Primordial Sovereign of the Colorful Clouds of Dawn) seated on a throne and wearing a robe adorned with a dragon on each shoulder, holding a tablet in her hands. Her headdress is adorned with three phoenixes with outstretched wings. (Missing lacquer). H. 78 cm Bixia Yuanjun (碧霞元君) is a major deity of Chinese Taoism, associated with Mount Taishan, one of China's sacred mountains, and plays an intermediary role between heaven and the human world. Protector of women, fertility, birth and destiny, she was particularly invoked for pregnancy and children's health. In the Ming period (1368-1644), her cult flourished, supported by both the common people and certain elites. Bronze statuettes reflect the importance attached to domestic protective deities and private devotional practices. Bronze, a durable and prestigious material, was used to demonstrate piety and social status. Bixia Yuanjun is often depicted seated, serene, with imperial iconography evoking her celestial authority. These images served as ritual supports for prayer and offerings. They also reflect the centrality of Taoist beliefs to daily life under the Ming. Expert : Cabinet PORTIER