With their rounded faces, rosy cheeks, and joyful demeanour, Da A Fu dolls are beloved emblems of good fortune in China and have become celebrated icons of the nation’s cultural heritage. Traditionally crafted from clay, these figures represent the most famous example of Huishan claywork, an esteemed Chinese art form that traces its origins back to the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). These delightful artefacts were among the first to be included in China’s National List of Intangible Cultural...