Skip to main content
Curiosa
Sign InTry a scan

Chinese Cast Brass Figure of Guan Yu on Horseback

Cast brass figure of Chinese general Guan Yu riding a horse and holding a pole weapon. - view 1
1/3

Estimated value

$40 - $120

Rarity

Ordinary(3/10)

Category

Asian Art

Era

Circa 1940-1980

Origin

🇨🇳 China

Authenticity

Very High(85%)
7

CHINESE CAST BRASS FIGURE OF GUAN YU ON HORSEBACK: IDENTIFICATION

A cast brass or bronze alloy figure depicting the deified general Guan Yu astride a horse, holding a Green Dragon Crescent Blade (guandao). The general's armor features cast scaled patterns with softened details typical of mid-20th-century sand casting techniques. A single dark cabochon remains set in his helmet. The horse's ornamental harness contains multiple empty circular settings that originally held small glass, turquoise, or coral beads. The horse's reins are fashioned from simple twisted copper-toned wire rather than cast metal.

Compare with other Asian art pieces in the archive: Chinese Archaistic Carved Jade Figure, Hongshan/Shang Style, Balinese Art Deco Wooden Sculpture of a Winged Celestial (Kinnari), Chinese Archaistic 'Taotie' and 'Chilong' Jade Pendant.

DYNASTY & PROVENANCE

Guan Yu was a historical military general serving under Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty (circa 160-220 AD). He was elevated to the status of a deity during the Sui dynasty and heavily venerated during the Ming and Qing periods as a symbol of martial righteousness and loyalty. While ...
Guan Yu was a historical military general serving under Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty (circa 160-220 AD). He was elevated to the status of a deity during the Sui dynasty and heavily venerated during the Ming and Qing periods as a symbol of martial righteousness and loyalty. While fine imperial bronzes of Guan Yu from the 17th century regularly appear at major auction houses like Sotheby's and Christie's, this specific casting represents the broader 20th-century production of affordable metalwork created for household altars, local shrines, and the export market.

SCARCITY

Ordinary40-55%
CommonLegendary

Standard antiques commonly found at estate sales and flea markets. Plentiful supply meets modest demand.

Rarity 3/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 34 asian items at rarity 3 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

  • Moderate production runs
  • Common at estate sales
  • Entry-level collectibles

Confidence Factors

  • The object presents clearly as a mid-tier 20th-century decorative cast rather than attempting to forge specific Ming or Qing dynasty reign marks.
  • The use of twisted wire and rudimentary cabochon settings are consistent with mass-produced mid-century export metalwork.
How does authenticity detection work?

ASIAN ART SCHOLAR'S TAKE

Asian Art Specialist

East Asian Art Expert

The visual markers of 20th-century commercial brass casting, combined with the instantly recognizable iconography of Guan Yu, allow for a confident attribution of the object's age and function, despite lacking maker's marks.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Presence of empty circular recesses for stone or glass inlay on the horse's tack.
  • 2Softness of the cast details on the scaled armor, indicating contemporary sand casting.
  • 3Iconography clearly identifies the figure as Guan Yu via the specific beard style and guandao weapon.
  • 4Dull brass oxidation typical of mid-20th-century commercial alloys.

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •The crude wire reins are certainly not original to the artist's original casting mold.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Check the underside of the horse's belly and hooves for any cast workshop marks or 'China' export stamps.
  • →Inspect the attachment point of the weapon to ensure the blade is secure and not a mismatched addition.

CONDITION & GRADE

Condition

The object exhibits moderate to heavy aesthetic wear. Multiple originally inset decorative cabochons are missing from the circular recesses on the horse's chest and flank straps. The twisted metal wire acting as the reins is crude and visibly distorted, indicating a likely makeshift replacement. Minor localized surface corrosion is present near the figure's beard.

Weight & feel

Appears to be a solid or thick-walled cast measuring approximately 8 to 10 inches in height, suggesting a moderate weight of roughly 1.5 to 2.5 kilograms.

ASIAN ART VALUATION

$40 - $120

Updated: May 13, 2026

Who buys this

Collectors of Chinese cultural iconography, martial arts practitioners, and individuals purchasing deity figures for feng shui or home altar purposes.

What increases value

  • •Completeness of the original cast components, particularly the weapon.
  • •Retention of the original inset stones (turquoise, coral, or glass).
  • •Crispness of the facial details and armor casting.

What lowers value

  • •Missing inlay stones requiring restoration.
  • •Replaced or crude components altering the original aesthetic, such as the present wire reins.

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Heavy period bronze construction (Ming/Early Qing era) rather than 20th-century brass.
  • •Presence of original gilding or cold-painted details.
  • •Documented provenance from a recognized Asian art collection.

Grade & condition

Completeness of the weapon, percentage of original inlays retained, and severity of active verdigris corrosion.

Rarity & demand

OrdinaryModerate demandSells quickly
Browse similar asian objects

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

YOUR INPUT VS. SCAN

How your provided context compares with Curiosa.com scanner findings.

What Aligned

  • User stated 'Needs restoration', which is fully supported by the visible loss of multiple inlay cabochons on the horse's harness, the crude twisted wire acting as reins, and the minor corrosion spotting.

FROM THE CABINET OF

NA

nala
Wonderseeker•1 item

COMMENTS

No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Sign in to leave a comment

ABOUT ASIAN ART

Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and other Asian art and antiques.

Asian Art value and rarity guide

SHARE THIS CURIOSITY

Have your own curiosities to discover?

Scan Your Curiosity