{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O24352"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O24352/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GN9804/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GN9804/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2013GN9804","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2013GN9805","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AR9264","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O24352","accessionNumber":"FE.32-1984","objectType":"Figure","titles":[{"title":"Liu Haichan","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"The figure is Liu Hai, a Daoist immortal who kept a three-legged toad as companion. The toad often ran away, but would come back every time Liu dangled a string of cash. Hence Liu and his toad have become a symbol of wealth.","physicalDescription":"Sculpture made in reddish brown <i>zisha</i> clay, sculptured Liu Hai playing with the golden toad.  It typically shows Liu Hai teasing or playing with a three-legged toad, which is believed to bring wealth and good fortune. The toad often has a coin in its mouth.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Xu, Xiutang","id":"A21740"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":"Xu Xiutang 徐秀棠(born December 1937) is a native of Yixing, Jiangsu Province, and a renowned <i>zisha </i>pottery artist and Chinese Arts and Crafts Master. In 1954, he became an apprentice to the famous pottery and carving master Ren Ganting. Xu's excellent purple clay pottery sculptures perfectly combine traditional techniques with modern styles."}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"zisha","id":"THES395831"}],"techniques":[{"text":"sculpture","id":"AAT53618"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Sculptured with <i>zisha </i>clay","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2013GN9804","2013GN9805","2006AR9264"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"137","id":"THES49876"},"free":"","case":"14","shelf":"6","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Man and toad","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Yixing","id":"x32221"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1980","earliest":"1980-01-01","latest":"1980-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Depth","value":"14.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"17.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"23.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Signed on back 'Made by Xu Xiutang, autumn 1980'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Bought in Hong Kong by Rose Kerr, AK/ in course of trip to China to acquire 20th c. material in 1984","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Yixing ware. Sculpture with Liu Hai figure, made by Xu Xiutang, Yixing, China, made in 1980. ","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Rose Kerr, 'Contemporary Chinese Crafts', 'V&A Album 4' (1985), p.326, fig.7: Frances Wood & Rose Kerr, 'Chinese Collections', 'Crafts', 77 (Nov/Dec 1985): Rose Kerr, 'Ceramic Story', 'China Now', Autumn 1986, no 118\nK.S Lo, 'The stonewares of Yixing', (Sotheby's/Hong Kong UP, 1986), pp.235, pl. 163 (identical to present example)"}],"production":"Biographical reference: See booklet 'A million pairs of hands: the arts of Yi-xing', published by vendors. Student at Zhejiang Arts & Crafts Inst., joined Yixing in 50s as student of Ren Jianting. 1958 entered Beijing Arts and Crafts Inst. Specialist figure modeller.\nYixing, Jiangsu province, CHINA","productionType":{"text":"small batch","id":"THES252237"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Liu Hai and his three-legged toad\r\nMade by Xu Xiutang\r\n1980\r\nYixing kilns, south China\r\n\r\nLiu Hai was a Daoist immortal who kept a three-legged toad as companion. \r\n\r\nUnglazed brown stoneware \r\nMuseum no. FE.32-1984","date":{"text":"2007","earliest":"2007-01-01","latest":"2007-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["FE.32-1984"],"accessionNumberNum":"32","accessionNumberPrefix":"FE","accessionYear":1984,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-12-05","recordCreationDate":"2000-02-12","availableToBook":false}}