Dehua porcelain statue of the ‘Laughing twins’ or ‘He He Erxian’ who are the Gods of Peace and Harmony. One twin is named Shi De (拾得) and one is called Han Shan (寒山). The two boys bestow blessings on marriages and this statue was perhaps meant as a wedding gift. This kind of white glazed porcelain is called ‘Blanc de Chine’ or 'Dehua' porcelain. It was made in the city of Dehua in Fujian province and has been produced from the Ming dynasty to the present day. Large quantities arrived in Europe as Chinese Export Porcelain in the early 18th century and it was copied at Meissen and elsewhere. This statue is very well made but of recent manufacture. Width 24.5 cm. Depth 13 cm. Height 19 cm.