Page 229 - SOTHEBYS MARCH 18 AND 19 2025

413 415

A GILT-BRONZE SEATED FIGURE OF A A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF ‘WATER MOON’ 明十六世紀 銅鎏金水月觀音坐像
LUOHAN, LATE MING DYNASTY GUANYIN, MING DYNASTY, 16TH CENTURY 及 銅座
bronze stand (2)
wood stand (2) 來源
Height 11⅛ in., 28.3 cm. Height overall 11½ in., 29.2 cm
灣區私人收藏
PROVENANCE
PROVENANCE
Susanin’s Auctions, Chicago, 2008. Bay Area Private Collection.
The present figure of Guanyin is superbly cast, notable
$ 6,000-8,000 for the softly rendered facial features and elegant drapery
明末 銅鎏金僧人坐像 that hints at the body underneath. The deity is cast here in
a sinicized style, evident through the rounded fleshy face,
feminine features, fuller figure, and cowl draped over the
來源
tall chignon. This form of representation developed in the
Susanin’s Auctions，芝加哥，2008年 mid to late Ming dynasty and continued into the early Qing,

before gilt-bronzes generally adopted a more Tibeto-Chinese
manner.
A closely related gilt-bronze ‘Water Moon’ Guanyin was sold
in our Hong Kong rooms, 8th April 2011, lot 3046. See also
a figure of Guanyin, similarly depicted with right leg raised,
sold in our London rooms, 15th May 2007, lot 33, from the
collection of Otto Rose, Dresden.
⊖ $ 50,000-70,000

413

414

A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDAI, LATE
MING DYNASTY
Height 9¼ in., 23.5 cm
Budai, the God of Happiness, and also called ‘the laughing
Buddha’, was popular in Chinese culture for his association
with happiness, plenitude and wisdom of contentment.
Based on the tenth-century Chinese monk, Qici, who was
believed by his followers to be a reincarnation of the Buddha,
he was eventually worshipped as a deified figure in his own
right. Budai is often depicted with a joyful expression and
wide smile whilst wearing loosely-fitted robes that reveal his
large stomach. Compare a related figure of Budai, attributed
to the sixteenth century, sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 31st
May 2010, lot 1964.
$ 20,000-30,000
明末 銅鎏金布袋和尚坐像

414

454 SOTHEBY’S COMPLETE CATALOGUING AVAILABLE AT SOTHEBYS.COM/N11744 455