Daoist celestial worthy

This three-color (sancai) glazed sculpture consists of four sections: statue, body halo, lotus-dragon support, and two-tiered hexagonal platform. It represents a member of the Three Pure Ones, the Daoist triad of supreme power. As the manifestation of ultimate celestial energy, the Three Pure Ones are usually portrayed as elderly sages holding divine objects associated with their individual roles.

Many workshops in Ming-dynasty Shanxi were well known for their production of wall tiles, statues, and vessels in sancai glazes. This double-fired statue was probably made in such a glazed-tile workshop, where prefabricated molds of the components were often used to reduce cost and increase efficiency of production.