Page 55 - Christies IMportant Chinese Art Sept 26 2020 NYC

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A RARE DRY LACQUER FIGURE OF A SEATED
BUDDHA
YUAN DYNASTY (1279-1368)
The figure is shown seated in padmasana and with hands held
in dhyana mudra, wearing loose robes and a shawl that falls
in graceful folds on the shoulders, the hair dressed in small
conical snail curls that also cover the domed ushnisha, which
is surmounted by a gold ball, the torso, arms and the back with
traces of gold lacquer remaining.
22 in. (56 cm.) high
$20,000-30,000

Shown seated cross-legged in meditation, with hands held
palms up in the lap, the ends of the thumbs touching, this
sensitive depiction of a Buddha likely represents Buddha
Amitabha. Also known as Amitayus, Amitabha is the
principal Buddha in Pure Land Buddhism and one of the
most popular deities in the Tibetan Buddhist pantheon.

The gentle, youthful appearance of the face with small
mouth and thin lips, the flat ears which cling closely to the
head, the large ushnisha surmounted by a gold ball, and
the relatively spikey hair all compare favorably with Yuan-
dynasty qingbai images from Jingdezhen, such as the figure
of Buddha sold at Christie’s Paris, 14 December 2016, lot 50.
Other noteworthy similarities include the slender waist and
the lack of any decorative border designs on the drapery, the
ends of which ripple at the chest and on the arms.

元 脫胎佛坐像