Page 373 - Chinese Art Auction April 25, 2020 2020 Galerie Zacke

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A lARge yOuThFul bOdhIsATTVA, sWAT VAlley, For many, the Swat Valley is made famous by legends surrounding the
6Th-8Th ceNTuRy creation of the very first image of Buddha that was commissioned during
his lifetime by one of Swat’s ancient rulers, King Udayana of Kaushambi,
Terracotta of pinkish-beige color, enforced by an inner wood structure. and later became an important cult image in China. Situated along the lush
Bodhisattva, who looks down with empathy, gazes with accented eyes upper banks of the Indus river in modern day northern Pakistan, the Swat
and an expression that is resilient and magisterial. He wears a tall Valley’s contribution to the perpetuity of Buddhist art in Western Asia was
three-pointed diadem with petals and foliage, above a row of pearls pivotal after the Hun invasions of the ancient region of Gandhara in the
and spiraling curls framing the forehead, and three necklaces, one 6th century had all but ceased production. Gradually the distinctive Swat
made of lotus roundels. remnants of thick hair tresses cascade along aesthetic melted into the style of adjoining Kashmir. Thereafter the art of
his shoulders in a manner distinctive to the Swat Valley. medieval Kashmir was seminal for the formation of early Western Tibetan
Buddhist art and beyond.
Provenance: From an English private collection. Shirley Day, New York, The fine facial features, for which this statue
24 June 2005. A private collection in Belgium, acquired from the above. excels, distinguishes it from later Kashmir
A copy of the original invoice from Shirley Day, New York, dated 24 June types. Whereas the latter tend to have
2005, is accompanying this lot. (Note that this invoice dates the present stuffed, somewhat bloated cheeks, this
statue to “Kashmir culture, 8th century AD”) figure retains a more pleasing oval shape
Published: 51eme Foire des Antiquaires de Belgique, 2006. Copies of reminiscent of the Gandharan and Gupta
the respective entry are accompanying this lot. influences on Swat before the 6th century.
condition: Losses, cracks and encrustations as visible on the images For the same reason his nose appears more
(see all images online at www.zacke.at). Nicely grown patina. Some aquiline than broader Kashmir examples.
breaks with areas of old restoration, overall fully consistent with the age And lastly, whereas the proportions of the
of this statue. eyes can appear unrestrained and overly
scientific Report: A thermoluminescence analysis report issued by abstracted, to the point of being awkward,
Oxford Authentication on February 13th, 2020, sets the firing date of his eyes are elegant and symmetrical.
the three samples taken at 1000 – 1600 years ago.
Associated modern stand. (2)
Weight: 14.3 kg
Dimensions: Height 54.5 cm (the bust only) and 61.5 cm (including the estimate euR 3.000,-
stand) Starting price EUr 1.500,-

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