Description
A LARGE MING DYNASTY STATUE OF BUDDHA SHAKYAMUNI
China, 16th to mid-17th century. The copper-alloy figure richly gilt overall and finely cast seated in dhyanasana on a raised and beaded double-lotus base, his right hand in bhumisparsa mudra and holding an alms bowl in his left, wearing a tightly fitted robe with neatly incised scrollwork borders draped across his left shoulder. The base nicely sealed with a copper plate bearing the visvavajra symbol.
Provenance: Artemisia, Alresford, United Kingdom. A private collector, acquired from the above in 2006 and thence by descent. A copy of the purchase invoice, dated 24 January 2006, is accompanying this lot (note that the statue is dated as “18th century” in this invoice, but we believe it dates to the late Ming dynasty instead). Two old Artemisia paper labels to base.
Condition: Superb condition with old wear and minor nicks here and there. Some casting flaws, visible parting lines and remnants of old pigment. The alms bowl original to the statue but slightly loose.
Weight: 3.6 kg
Dimensions: Height 34.5 cm
The face is crisply cast with a serene expression with downcast eyes, flanked by long pendulous ears cut with implied vertical slits, the hair arranged in rows of tight whorls surmounted by a domed ushnisha bearing a gilt finial on top. The lips and eyes are meticulously picked out in pigments.
This image is in the style of the second half of the Ming dynasty, with the flowing drapery and fuller face and torso. It is impressive for its rather large size and is a remarkable example of the highly skilled craftsmanship seen during the 16th and 17th century. The rhythmic folds of the drapery capture a sense of movement as they flare away from the body and the intricate incised details around the hems are reminiscent of flower scroll motifs that adorned blue and white porcelain as well as contemporary textile designs.
大型明代銅鎏金釋迦穆尼坐蓮像
中國,十六至十七世紀中期。合金銅釋迦穆尼打蓮花座坐在雙層蓮花座上,右手施觸地印,左手握著施捨缽,左肩披長袍。底座密封,上可見金剛杵印。
來源:英國埃爾福特Artemisia藝廊。一位私人藏家2006年購於上述藝廊,保存至今。附一份上注2006年1月24日的發票(上寫有“十八世紀”字樣,但是我們相信這件造像是明末)。底座可見兩張Artemisia老標簽。
品相:狀況極佳,可見舊磨損和小刻痕。一些鑄造缺陷,可見的分界綫和舊顏料餘留。小缽 應爲造像原有,只是略微鬆動。
重量:3.6 公斤
尺寸:高34.5 厘米