Chinese lacquer Buddha & stand, Du Hua, FooChow, circa 1900

small areas of wear, some small re-touches, excellent antique condition .

11x9cm, 9cm high

Foochow (Fuzhou) is one of the five Chinese treaty ports, the capital of Fujian provenance and has been completely open to Western merchants from 1842. As a result, local craftsmen flourished and the city became well known for its high quality exports of lacquerware (脫胎漆器), paper umbrellas, carved cork pictures, and horn combs. Du Hua was a master lacquer maker, operating in the late Qing Dynasty. The pieces are finely carved from wood, then coated with multiple layers of lacquer. This is made from the sap of the beautiful Rus tree - highly toxic and a relative of ivy!