Page 36 - 2021 March 18th Junkunc Collection Christie's New York City

IMPORTANT CHINESE ART FROM THE JUNKUNC COLLECTION | 瓊肯珍藏重要中國藝術

616
A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF
A STANDING BODHISATTVA
NORTHERN QI DYNASTY (AD 550-577)
The figure shown standing on a domed lotus plinth with right
hand raised in abhayamudra, the gesture of 'do not fear' and
the left hand in varadamudra, wears a ribbon-hung crown,
layered robes, and a shawl draped over the shoulders that is
gathered at the waist by a rosette hung with a long jeweled
pendant, and then draped over the arms. The head is backed
by a flame-form mandorla.
7√ in. (19.9 cm.) high
$60,000-80,000
PROVENANCE:
Stephen Junkunc, III (d. 1978) Collection.

The present figure may be compared to a gilt-bronze
bodhisattva of comparable height (19 cm.) shown standing
on a related base with the hands held in the same mudras,
which is dated to the Northern Qi dynasty, illustrated in
Comprehensive Illustrated Catalogue of Chinese Buddhist
Statues in Overseas Collections, vol. 3, Beijing, 2005, p. 464.
Like the present figure there is a flame-shaped mandorla
behind the head. See also the gilt-bronze bodhisattva shown
standing on a very similar lotus base, the tips of the lotus
petals similarly upturned, between two smaller figures on a
four-legged pedestal, illustrated by Jin Shen, Zhongguo Lidai
Jinian Foxiang Tudian (Illustrated Chinese Buddha Images
Through the Ages), Beijing, 1995, pp. 255 and 477, pl. 185.
The figure is backed by a flame-form mandorla inscribed on
the back with an inscription that dates it to the 2nd year of
Tianbao, which corresponds to AD 551, placing the altar very
early in the Northern Qi dynasty.

北齊 鎏金銅菩薩立像

來源:
(another view) 史蒂芬 • 瓊肯三世（1978年逝）珍藏。

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