Page 56 - 2019 September 9th Bonhams Important Chinese Works of Art

PROPERTY FROM A PENNSYLVANIA COLLECTOR
852
A STONE FIGURE OF A STANDING BUDDHIST DEITY
Ming dynasty
The fragment of buff colored stone carved in the round to depict a
dharmapala [Ch: Hufa or Jin’gang Lishi] or similar protector deity, the
intensely compact facial features centering a bald and crowned head
atop a massive neck and muscled bare chest, his extant arm gripping
a strap tethered to the remains of a mandorla and the billowing
elaborate folds of his hip-height garb.
10in (25.4) height of figure exclusive of modern stand

$15,000 - 25,000

明 石雕力士立像

Provenance:
Acquired in 1962, by repute

來源：
1962年入藏，傳

Perhaps based on the voluptuous Tang dynasty examples found
in Tianlongshan, the current lot also seems to share a kinship with
the muscled Nio [Ch: ren wang] ubiquitous in temples throughout
Japan, of course themselves inspired by Tang prototypes. For a
protector deity in wood, carbon dated to the Ming era, depicted in
similarly sweeping contrapposto with an equally idiosyncratic face and
elaborately-rendered garb, see the ‘Statuette de Dvarapala en Bois
Dynastie Ming’ sold at Sotheby’s Paris, 11 December 2014, lot 106.

54 | BONHAMS