1950 Green Mansion Girl Oiran Courtesan Figurine

This elegant circa 1950 figurine depicts an Oiran, or Green Mansion Girl, a Chinese courtesan comparable in status and artistry to a Japanese Geisha, and serves as a beautiful example of mid-century Blanc de Chine porcelain craftsmanship.

Green Mansion Girls were elite courtesans chosen under exceptionally rigorous standards, valued more for their refinement and talent than for physical beauty. To earn this title, a courtesan was required to master at least two of the traditional arts: music, chess, calligraphy, or painting. In addition, she was expected to be well-read, capable of composing poetry and songs, and skilled in graceful, intelligent conversation. Among these highly accomplished women, the Oiran represented the very pinnacle, the most distinguished of the Green Mansion Girls.

Measures approximately 8 1/2" tall.
Condition: Excellent. Some shelf wear on the base, as shown.

Also called Dehua porcelain, it is made from white kaolin clay in the Chinese coastal town of Dehua, in central Fujian province. The tradition of Dehua pottery dates back to the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279). Blanc de Chine first entered the European market during the eighteenth century. Incised "Made in China" on the base, this figurine was made for the export market.

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