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A FRESCO PANEL OF CELESTIAL MUSICIANS
Ming dynasty
Pigments on plaster, now framed and glazed, depicting a group of
celestial musicians playing various instruments.
34 x 70 1/2in (86.4 x 179cm)
US$8,000 - 12,000
明 彩繪仙女奏樂圖壁畫
Frescoes of celestial musicians were an important genre seen in
early Buddhist murals. Cave 17 at Ajanta and Cave 220 at Magao
Dunhuang both featured parades of heavenly musicians. Although
in China musicians were also part tomb art prior to the influx of
Buddhism. In this panel from left to right the musicians play a xiao
flute, sheng mouth organ, yueqin moon lute, di transverse flute, tanggu
drum, and yunlou cloud gong.
144 | BONHAMS
