Page 158 - Asian Art December 7 to 8 2018 Lempertz (German Text)

CHINA

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Großer Buddha Shakyamuni. Bronze, vergoldet. Provenienz
Ming-Zeit, 17. Jh. Lempertz, Köln 11.12.1931, Lot 582 Tafel 3
Privatsammlung, Rheinland und seitdem in Familienbesitz.
Im Meditationsitz, die rechte Hand in bhumisparsa mudra,
die linke liegt in dhyana mudra über den Füßen, auf dem € 200.000 – 250.000
Kopf kleine, ehemals blau eingefärbte Buckellocken, daraus
ausgespart vor dem ushnisha ein urna. Das Untergewand ist
unterhalb der Brust mit einem zu einer Schlaufe gebundenen
Band zusammengebunden, auf den Gewandbordüren große
Lotosblüten und Blattranke in Relief. Europäischer Holzsockel,
bronzefarben bemalt.
H 50 cm

The former owner, an industrialist with a factory in the lower continued into the early years of the Qing dynasty (Sotheby’s
Rhine area, amassed a large collection of paintings, drawi- Hong Kong, 8.4.2014, lot 88).
ngs, prints and porcelains in the 1920s and 1930s. He mainly
bought in the Rhineland, especially from Walter Bornheim and Such Buddhist bronze sculptures were generally donated to a
at Lempertz. As was popular at the time, he also bought ob- Buddhist temple by private persons. They were placed on the
jects from the Near and Far East. This extraordinaily beautiful large wooden altar, which displayed the main figures of wors-
Buddha Shakyamuni was bought at Lempertz in Cologne on hip, usually a triad of Buddhas or Bodhisattvas. To the sides
11./12. December 1931 as Lot 582. After the death of his widow, and in front of them smaller Buddhist figures were randomly
part of the collection was sold though auction and the other arranged. As objects of worship they were sometimes donned
part remained in the family, now consigned by one of the with a cloth placed around their shoulders.
grandsons of the collector.
The current bronze sculpture is an extraordinary fine examp-
The simple garment covering both shoulders, the complete lack le of bronze casting of the late Ming dynasty. The Buddha’s
of jewellery and the hands held in the mudra of meditation face features express spiritual serenity. The hair curls with
(dhyana) are the identifying characteristics of Buddha Shakya- remains of their lapis lazuli blue colouring evenly cover the
muni. The current figure is represented in the pure Han-Chine- head and ushnisha while the large domed urna reserved from
se style, without any iconographic or stylistic influence of the the curls is accentuated by gilding. The ornamental borders of
Tantric or Tibetan Buddhism prevalent at the imperial court the garments consist of lotus flowers and leafy scrolls. They
from the Kangxi era onward. A rare example of a dated figure are rendered not as usual in engraving, but in relief giving the
of Guanyin similar in style to the current Shakyamuni and impression of precious brocade.
dated by inscription to the year 1660 shows that the Ming style

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