This Dehua or Blanc de Chine porcelain statue of Chairman Mao in his younger days is a highly unusual piece. Made from Dehua porcelain during the Cultural Revolution (1966-76), porcelain makers at the time focused on portraying Mao and other leaders in heroic terms; “Dehua artisans applied their very best skills to produce immaculate statuettes of the Great Leader and the heroes of the revolution.”
This soviet style of propaganda art espousing revolutionary ideals was considered acceptable compared to other Western ‘bourgeois’ forms.
Moreover, it is rare to find statues depicting Mao when younger, particularly given that he is depicted here wearing a changshan which fell out of favour during the Cultural Revolution. The drapery of his changshan, particularly in the back, strongly evokes Soviet propaganda art of the time.
Price marked at $1750, which is commensurate for Cold War era Dehua statues of this rarity and size.
Height of 58cm, base measurements 16.5 by 18.5cm.
Condition: Very good, wear to base commensurate with age. Very light wear overall commensurate with age. No chips or cracks to note.
