Page 173 - Fine Chinese, Japanese and Buddhist Art September 28, 2018 Galerie Zacke

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A VERY LARGE AND IMPRESSIVE JAPANESE BRONZE
STATUE OF KANNON
Japan, Meiji period (1868 - 1912)
Bronze

The goddess of mercy is standing tall on a lotus pedestal,
her hands held in anjali mudra with praying beads around 173
them. Her robes are beautifully incised with various A VERY LARGE ‘LOTUS AND ELEPHANTS’ FOUNTAIN
floral elements and scrolling foliage and she bears an (133 CM)
accomplished dignified expression. Japan, Meiji period (1868 – 1912) – late 19 century
th
Bronze
An exceedingly fine casting in which the carving
is minutely executed, with a sense of delicacy and The fountain consists of three parts, massively cast in
refinement that extends to the smallest detail. bronze with a dark, almost black patina
The face of Kannon is superbly meditative. Her gesture
that is said to provide connection with the divine in all Three conjoined elephants stand on a hexagonal plinth,
things. Hence, performing anjali mudra is a honoring of which is decorated with finely carved dragons in reserves.
both the self and the other as the gesture acknowledges The elephant’s tusks, legs and trunks all naturalistically mo-
the divinity of both practitioner and recipient. The sign delled, with a good eye for the fine and important details,
is used to invoke the deepest respect that an individual adding resilience to the imposing yet peaceful appearance
may feel towards another entity that they may face, of this stunning piece of Japanese garden architecture. The
irrespective of age, gender, race or religion. upper part of the fountain consists of a lobed, veiny lotus
Around the face are incised locks of hair surmounted flower, with a capacity of at least 100 liters.
by a crown of Hibiscus flowers, a homage to the Hindu
goddess Kali, destroyer of all evil. Over this crown is Taking into account the salient provenance of this foun-
a draped hood of her robes, which fall in perfect arcs tain, it is most likely that it was originally brought to
and loops to the base of the stepped lotus throne with Austria as a key exhibition object for the Japanese garden
gathers of fabric thinned at the edges to suggest silkiness at the Vienna World Fair from 1873. This open-air garden
and transparency. was the most admired and prized part of the Japanese
pavilion and consisted of artificial water courses, bridges,
Shape: Figural shape with a square base and lotus bamboo groves, pagodas and shrines. It soon became a
pedestal center of attraction at the world fair, because it was actu-
Dimensions: 68 cm (height) ally the first time in history that Europeans were given the
Condition: Excellent condition with beautiful patina opportunity to study Japanese garden architecture, with
Provenance: French private collection all is elementary components, such as the ever obligatory
stone lanterns and lotus fountains.
EstimateġEUR 1.500,-
Starting price EUR 750,- Shape: Hexagonal base with three elephants in the center
and a large lobed lotus leaf on top
Dimensions: 133 cm (height)
Condition: Superb, fully original and complete condition
– fine patina and natural wear, some traces of use
Provenance: From an important Austrian private
collection, acquired before 1930, in which several bronzes
from the Vienna World Fair from 1873 have been both
recorded and published
Literature: Jutta Pemsel, Die Wiener Weltausstellung von
1873, Chapter ‘Großereignis Weltausstellung’, Böhlau
publishers, Vienna/Cologne 1989, page 41; Degree
dissertation Anna Minichberger, University of Vienna.

EstimateġEUR 3.000,-
Starting price EUR 1.500,-

A bronze lotus fountain, in situ in a typical An image from a section of the Japanese
Japanese garden, Kyoto, this example lacking garden at the Vienna World Fair in 1873
the three elephants supporting the basin

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