Page 280 - Bonhams Cornette Saint Cyr, Property from the estate of Jean-Pierre Rousset (1936-2021)

Lot 236 at Robert Rousset’s apartment, circa 1950s

236
TRÈS RARE TÊTE DE BODHISATTVA EN PIERRE SCULPTÉE This graceful head of the bodhisattva displays particularly close
Dynaste des Wei du Nord (386-535) similarities with figures of Maitreya and bodhisattvas from the
Gongxian and Longmen caves complexes in Henan Province, both
A VERY RARE STONE HEAD OF A BODHISATTVA commissioned by the Northern Wei Imperial family. Northern Wei
Northern Wei Dynasty (386-535 AD) dynasty figures of this type were made to represent the ideal beauty of
Characteristically carved with an elongated face flanked by pendulous the time, with stylised facial features characterised by a pronounced
ears adorned with boss-shaped earrings, the face with a serene narrow and elongated head, with small, neat linear facial features
expression with an angular nose above well-defined lips and below the all frequently surmounted by a high crown, further emphasising the
arched eyebrows, the raised hair parted in the centre below the high linearity of the sculpture. The result is an ethereal quality, representing
tiara on a rope-twist base tied with a tasselled ribbon on each side and the purest form of the ideal of Buddhist spiritual enlightenment.
adorned with a foliate scroll, traces of red pigment, stand.
28.6cm (11 1/2in) high. (2). Many of the comparable sculptures originate from the Longmen cave
complex; compare with two seated figures of bodhisattvas, both from
€15,000 - 20,000 Longmen, illustrated by O.Siren, Chinese Sculptures in the von der
Heydt Collection, Zurich, 1959, pls.11-12.
Provenance:
Robert Rousset, Paris (1901-1981), acquired prior to 1935; the head is See a related limestone relief fragmentary head of a bodhisattva,
illustrated in a photograph taken at Robert Rousset’s Paris apartment, Northern Wei dynasty, which was sold at Sotheby’s New York,
circa 1950s 12 September 2018, lot 7.
Jean-Pierre Rousset, Paris (1936-2021)
北魏 石雕菩薩首

來源：
巴黎 Robert Rousset（1901-1981）舊藏，於1935年前入藏，首像見
於 Robert Rousset 巴黎府邸一舊照中，攝於上世紀五十年代閒
巴黎 Jean-Pierre Rousset（1936-2021）舊藏

278 | BONHAMS