Vintage Chinese Shiwan Pottery Children at Play Figural Group Sculpture 10.25in

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Vintage Chinese Shiwan Pottery Children at Play Figural Group Sculpture 10.25in:
$1200.00

Large vintage Chinese Shiwan-style pottery figural group depicting a lively group of children at play around a traditional rural architectural structure.

This elaborate multi-figure composition features approximately eight individually modeled children in colorful traditional-style clothing, shown climbing, balancing, playing and interacting around a large rustic structure with a wheel. Additional details include a hanging theatrical mask, painted auspicious motifs and a red square Chinese seal-style mark on the front.

The piece is attributed to the Shiwan ceramic tradition of Foshan, Guangdong, China. Shiwan figural pottery is known for expressive sculptural modeling, richly colored glazes, folk and everyday-life subjects, and the characteristic use of unglazed clay on faces and hands.

MUSEUM PARALLEL:

A remarkably close example of this composition was photographed on display at the National Art Museum of China in Beijing in January 2025. At that time, the museum was presenting “Four Seasons of Playful Delight — Folk Art from the Collection of the National Art Museum of China,” an exhibition featuring nearly 200 works from the museum’s folk-art collection, including a section devoted to children and play.

The museum comparison is referenced only as a closely matching example; no claim is made that this individual sculpture was formerly owned by or exhibited at the museum.

DETAILS:

• Vintage Chinese ceramic figural group
• Attributed to Shiwan, Foshan, Guangdong
• Shiwan pottery / ceramic sculpture tradition
• Children at Play / rural childhood subject
• Large multi-figure architectural composition
• Approximately eight child figures
• Polychrome glazed and unglazed surfaces
• Hand-finished and hand-decorated
• Chinese red seal-style mark on front
• No additional signature or mark observed on underside
• Artist / exact workshop: Unknown
• Approx. 10.25" high and 10.5" wide
• Please see ruler photographs for measurements

CONDITION:

Good vintage pre-owned condition with age-appropriate surface wear, scattered paint/glaze loss, small edge nicks and wear to some projecting details. Some delicate accessories and projecting elements appear to have minor old chips or losses. Handmade, firing and glaze irregularities are present and are consistent with this type of ceramic production. No major structural cracks or obvious restoration are visible in the photographs. The underside is unglazed and shows normal age-related discoloration and firing marks.

Please inspect all photographs carefully. Photos are part of the description and show the exact item, condition, details and measurements.

You will receive the exact sculpture shown in the photographs.