Royal Selangor’s Celestial Blessings collection
From the hands of one of China’s top sculptors and the mastery of Malaysia’s venerable Royal Selangor house comes this, a tribute to Chinese deities and mythology with the heavenly moniker ‘Celestial Beings’.
The artist, Master Xu Xiao Yong, who also serves as a member of the United Nations Arts Initiative, created delicate and detailed personifications of deities popular in Taoism. The imposing Guan Gong, also known as Guan Yu, worshipped as the Saintly Emperor Guan who vanquishes demons. The kindly Guan Yin, the goddess of mercy and the embodiment of compassion. The trio of Fu, Lu and Shou, the Sanxing (Three Star) deities that personify prosperity, status and longevity, representing the three tenets of a good life.
Pewter is a new medium for Master Xu, who is more used to working with themin wood, stone and bronze. His idea was to use the new material to create modern interpretations of these timeless figures that would resonate in the 21st century yet still respect their place at an altar of worship.
Toiling over 18 months, the finished figures are spectacular. Guan Gong, with his stylised blade protruding from the mouth of dragon, is suitably arresting. Guan Yin is depicted here not in her usual serene pose on a lotus, but as a languid presence settled on a rough rock, delicate robes cascading over stone. And then the Fu, Lu and Shou trio, with an exaggerated ovalness that is both endearing yet a depiction of the concept of roundness in Chinese culture – symbolising the constant cycle and natural rhythms of the universe.
The pewter sculptures are now available at Royal Selangor stores, retailing at RM12,500 (Guan Gong), RM15,000 (Guan Yin) and RM2,968 (the Sanxing trio).
