Page 166 - Christies Asia Week 2015 Chinese Works of Art

2126 PROPERTY FROM A DISTINGUISHED PRIVATE
COLLECTION
164 2126
A PAINTED STUCCO HEAD OF A BODHISATTVA
SONG-YUAN DYNASTY (AD 960-1368)

The head is modeled with a small mouth and
slightly open eyes revealing black glass pupils. An
urna centers the forehead, and the hair is rolled
in segments at the hairline and pulled up into a
topknot. There are traces of white gesso and red and
blue pigments.
13 in. (33 cm.) high, stand

$6,000-8,000

PROVENANCE:

Acquired in New York, 1990.
宋/元 彩繪灰泥菩薩頭像

THE PROPERTY OF A PRIVATE COLLECTOR
2127
A BRONZE FIGURE OF MAITREYA
TANG-SONG DYNASTY (AD 618-1279)

The Future Buddha is seated with both feet pendent
and resting on lotus blossoms, with the right hand
raised in vitarkamudra and the left resting on the
knee, and he is clad in voluminous robes draped
over the left shoulder. The face is downcast, with
almond-shaped eyes and fnely arched brows, and
the hair is arranged in rows, with a small knob
before the ushnisha.
4Ω in. (11.4 cm.) high, wood stand

$10,000-15,000

PROVENANCE:

Acquired in Berlin, 30 January 1997.

Maitreya Buddha governs two perfected worlds: Tushita
Heaven, which he currently inhabits, and Ketumati, an
ideal realm conducive to the pursuit of enlightenment
where he will serve as the teaching Buddha. Compare
the present fgure with a gilt-bronze fgure of Maitreya
with similar treatment of the drapery and hair, illustrated
in Zhongguo liu shi hai wai fo jiao zao xiang zong he
tu mu (Comprehensive Illustrated Catalogue of Chinese
Buddhist Statues in Overseas Collections), vol. 4, Beijing,
2005, p. 887, where it is dated Tang dynasty.

The present fgure has a small, attached wax seal
bearing an inscription in Tibetan seal-script. Tibetan
lamas (teachers) and dignitaries often collected ancient
Buddhist sculpture, paintings, and ritual items, and
would sometimes affx their personal seal as a ‘collection
stamp’.

唐/宋 銅彌勒佛坐像

2127 (wax seal)