Page 67 - Chiense works of art sothebys march 14 2017 nyc

544

PROPERTY FROM A NEW YORK CITY COLLECTION

A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF GUANYIN
MING DYNASTY, 15TH / 16TH CENTURY

seated in vajraparyankasana, the shoulders anked by the
kalavinka bird and a kundika supported by lotus blossoms, the
stems extending from the palms, the deity with a high scrolling
jatamakuta encircled by a crown above elaborate jewelry, the
dhoti falling in folds about the seat, supported by a double
lotus base with pendent sashes near the corners, with traces
of pigment
Height 15⅞ in., 40.3 cm

This speci c combination of kundika rose water sprinkler and
the kalavinka bird, as seen in the present gure, can often be
found in Chinese Buddhist iconography of the Ming dynasty.
Both elements were borrowed from the iconography of China’s
neighbors and appear in Chinese art during the Tang dynasty.
The kundika originated in India, was used in Buddhist rituals,
and in this context, symbolizes puri cation. The kalavinka is
said to represent the voice of the Buddha with its melodious
sound, and is associated with Garuda and Kinnara in Buddhist
art.

A bronze gure of Guanyin dated to the second half of the 15th
century and similar to the present lot was sold at Christie’s
Hong Kong 3rd November 1998, lot 1014; another similar
example with a di erent lotus base, cast with the date 1516,
Zhengde Period, was sold at Christie’s New York, 21st March
2000, lot 171.

$ 40,000-60,000

IMPORTANT CHINESE ART 65