Page 114 - 2019 September 10th Sotheby's Important Chinese and Tibetan Buddhist Art, New York

112 SOTHEBY’S NEW YORK 10 SEPTEMBER 2019 BODIES OF INFINITE LIGHT

Fig. 3 A Yongle mark and period gilt-bronze figure of Jinasagara Fig. 4 An early Ming dynasty wood figure of Amitayas and
Avalokiteshvara formerly on loan to the Royal Tropical Institute Museum, consort, Pacific Asia Museum, gift from the Nancy King
Amsterdam (TM-5520-1) © Collection Nationaal Museum Collection (2001.1.47) © USC Pacific Asia Museum
van Wereldculturen 圖四 木雕彩塑無量壽佛及明妃 亞太博物館 Nancy King收藏捐贈
圖三 明永樂 銅鎏金大悲勝海紅觀音像 曾借展於阿姆斯特丹Royal Tropical (2001.1.47)
Institute Museum (TM-5520-1) © 亞太博物館 加州帕薩迪納
© Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen 收藏

compared with the Yongle period. Consequently, there is considerably 對數量較多，宣德年製者則遠為稀有。永
less recorded Xuande Vajrayana Buddhist sculpture compared 樂年佛像多數為供奉西藏重要佛教機構
with the relatively large numbers from the Yongle period. Xuande 而製，而如本品之宣德佛像則主要為國人
Buddhist sculpture, such as this gilt-wood Avalokiteshvara, was made 事佛而製。
principally for local worship rather than as tribute to institutions in 早明之木雕金剛乘佛像，現時傳世作例甚
Tibet as was so frequently the case in the Yongle period. 罕，唯可比較一觀音像例，現藏於亞太博
物館，加州帕薩迪納（藏品編號2001.1.47）
Few wood sculptures depicting Vajrayana Buddhist deities have （圖四）。該像與本品高度及風格相同，
survived from the early Ming dynasty, with the notable exception 幾乎可以肯定乃出自同一組造像，而且與
of an Amitayus now in the Pacific Asia Museum, Pasadena, acc. 本品同樣刻劃觀音明妃合抱之造型，非常
no. 2001.1.47 (fig. 4). The statue is the same height and style as 罕見。兩像可能出自一組造像，而由於刻劃
之佛像較少信眾供奉，故此相信應為私人
the Jinasagara Avalokiteshvara and is almost certainly from the
same series. And like the Jinasagara Avalokiteshvara, the Pacific 用途而非公開展示。
Asia Museum sculpture is a rare form of a popular deity depicted in 木雕彩塑，乃中國廟宇造像傳統技藝，流
unison with his consort. The two statues are likely to have been part 行宋代之木製觀音像即屬此法，現存作
of a larger series that, due to the esoteric nature of the deities, were 例相對較多，以其姿態優雅，佛像慈悲見
probably placed in a chapel for private devotion and meditation rather 稱。此造像傳統傳至早明，本品即屬當中
than for public display. 臻例，而觀音明妃合抱造型，則代表智慧
慈悲結合而得道之願。
Gilt and polychrome wood is a traditional medium for depicting gods
in Chinese temple interiors, as seen for example in the relatively large
number of surviving wood temple sculptures of Guanyin from the
Song dynasty (960-1279), known for their elegant and regal posture
imbued with grace and spirituality. This ancient sculptural tradition
thus continued through the early Ming dynasty with this outstanding
Xuande period gilt-wood figure of Avalokiteshvara and consort,
their bond fulfilling the ultimate Vajrayana Buddhist aspiration to
enlightenment through the union of Wisdom and Compassion.