Chinese Shiwan Sancai Glazed Mud Man Figurine Appraisal

Chinese Shiwan Sancai Glazed Mud Man Figurine

This is a vintage hand-crafted ceramic figurine of an elderly Chinese sage or immortal, commonly referred to as a 'Mud Man.' The figure is constructed from a buff-colored clay base and features the classic Sancai (three-color) tri-color glaze palette of mustard yellow, deep emerald green, and cobalt blue. Characteristically for the Shiwan style, the face, beard, and hands remain unglazed to showcase the fine terracotta or stoneware detail. The figure is depicted in a traditional scholarly robe with flowing sleeves and a tall top-knot hairstyle. Notable craftsmanship is visible in the expressive, hand-tooled facial features and the detailed draping of the ceramic fabric. The glaze exhibits fine crazing throughout, which is consistent with age and intentional kiln cooling processes. Regarding condition, the piece shows surface wear and minor glaze thinning on high-relief edges, but no significant chips or structural cracks are immediately visible. These figures typically date from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century (Republic period), though this specific style remained popular for export throughout the 1900s. The 'Myrano' context provided likely refers to a distributor or a misremembered brand associated with the item's previous retail history.