Artist unspecified, 20th century, Laughing Buddha - Budai

Ceramic (stoneware?); height 26 cm; width 23 cm.
China, 20th century.
Figure of a seated, smiling Buddhist monk with a bald head and a very thick belly visible from under a billowing cloak. With his right hand he holds a large leaf above his head, with which he shields himself from the sun. On the back signed in Chinese characters.
The image of the smiling Buddha, a symbol of happiness and prosperity, taken from folk traditions - it appeared already during the Song dynasty (960-1279).
Preservation condition: broken fragment of the fan.