Page 158 - 2020 Sept Important Chinese Art Sotheby's NYC Asia Week

9/2/2020 Important Chinese Art | Sotheby's

Impo rtant Chinese Art
New York |23 Sep 2020 | 09:00 AM EDT

Lot 604

A 'HUANGHUASHI' LIMESTONE FIGURE OF AVALOKITESHVARA , NORTHERN QI / SUI DYNASTY
Estimate: 60,000 - 80,000 USD

A 'HUANGHUASHI' LIMESTONE FIGURE OF AVALOKITESHVARA
NORTHERN QI / SUI DYNASTY
北齊 / 隋 黃花石雕觀音像

the deity carved in the round with a slender physique and gently rounded face, the proper right arm bent at the elbow with
the hand raised beside the chest, the left arm at the side and holding a covered vase, the sashes falling in folds from the narrow
shoulders and the dhoti clinging to the body in the 'wet drapery' effect revealing the slight swell of the lower belly and the contours
of the thighs, a heavy necklace with petal-form pendants hanging at the chest along with a double-chain suspending a large lotus
bud-form ornament, a further double-chain punctuated with rosettes hanging down the front of the body, the face with a
benevolent expression, a subtle smile playing across the lips and long eyebrows arching above the lowered eyelids, the hairline
mirroring the curvature of the brows, the hair pulled into a high chignon and partially concealed by an elaborate five-peaked
diadem, each peak supporting a tasseled roundel, a large jewel suspended in front of the urna and beaded strands hanging in
loops between the roundels, a long sash securing the diadem at back of the head, the loose ends streaming down behind the
pendulous ears, a natural soft brown patina coating the surface, affixed to a marble stand (2)

Height 12⅝ in., 32.1 cm

Provenance
Collection of Jakob Goldschmidt (1882-1955), acquired circa 1920s-1930s, and thence by descent.
Sotheby's New York, 23rd March 2004, lot 626.
Eskenazi, Ltd, London.

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/important-chinese-art?locale=en 158/435