Page 32 - Bonhams Chinese Art March 2016 New York

8044
A RARE AND FINELY CARVED
LIMESTONE HEAD OF A BODHISATTVA
Tang dynasty
The Bodhisattva crisply carved in the round,
with exceptionally full proportions, depicted
with a serene expression, the eyes downcast
with sinuous eyelids under dramatically
arched, deeply cut eyebrows curving into a
long nose which terminates in unusually large,
scrolling nostrils, the broad cheeks falling
to a generous chin, the lips exceedingly full,
the face framed by long pendulous ears and
the hairline, which rises to a neatly combed,
double-tiered coiffure, parted in the middle,
supporting a large, swirling top knot held in
place by a single plait bound with jeweled
ornaments, the back of the head finished and
with a rectangular socket for attachment, the
limestone of greyish tan hue.
8 3/4in (22.2cm) high
$12,000 - 18,000

唐 石灰岩雕菩薩頭像

The style of this head invites comparison
with many of the Bodhisattva figures, dated
to the 8th century, in the Tianlongshan
caves, at Taiyuan, Shanxi. The execution of
this carving, including the deeply undercut
brows, the large, curling nostrils, strikingly
full lips, pendulous nose, broad cheeks and
coiffure have much in common with that of
another head of a Bodhisattva which originally
adorned cave 18 at the Tianlongshan
complex. A further head of a Bodhisattva,
sold at Christie’s New York, 18 March 2009,
sale 2268, lot 360, and formerly in the Arthur
M. Sackler collections, purchased from J.T.
Tai and Co., also shares these characteristics.

30 | BONHAMS