Page 91 - Bonhams Asian Art London November 5, 2020

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AN IMPERIAL GILT-LACQUERED WOOD FIGURE OF BUDDHA Stylistically, the present work can be related to a corpus of Buddhist
17th/18th century gilt-lacquer sculpture commissioned during the reigns of the Kangxi
The serene figure seated cross-legged in dhyanasana on a separate and Qianlong emperors at the Buddhist site of Rehol, near Chengde
double-lotus pedestal with the hands held in dhyana mudra, attired in Hebei Province. The Kangxi emperor ordered the construction
with a long dhoti falling in elegant pleats and a celestial scarf billowing of various Tibetan-style Buddhist temples. Under the reign of his
around the arms, the face with downcast eyes crowned by intricate grandson, the Qianlong emperor, the site was expanded massively.
jewellery on top of the hair.
21.5cm (8 1/2in) high. (2). The central focus of worship for many of these temples were gilt-
lacquered sculptures, including the 22-meter-high figure of Thousand-
£8,000 - 12,000 Armed Avalokiteshvara at the Puning Temple. Related to the present
CNY70,000 - 110,000 work are three massive figures of Buddha in the Zongyin Hall of the
Pule Si, constructed in 1766 (illustrated by Du Jiang in Buddhist
Art from Rehol: Tibetan Buddhist images and ritual objects from
十七/十八世紀 御製木漆金佛坐像 the Qing dynasty Summer Palace at Chengde, Taipei, 1999, p.29).
Characteristic of many of these lacquered sculptures was the deeply
Provenance: an English private collection, and thence by descent. coloured gilding, almost in imitation of patinated gilt-bronze, atop thick
The collection was formed by the grandfather of the former owner red or black lacquer. Although no records exist as to why lacquer was
who was the Assistant Commissioner, Shanghai Municipal Police, chosen for the majority of the sculptural ensemble, it is likely the use
1919-1928. His father was a Protestant missionary in China. The family of the more plentiful and pliable material allowed for a more extensive
returned to England shortly after the Second World War. building project.

來源：英國私人收藏，並由後人保存迄今。本拍品前任藏家之祖父曾 Compare with a larger gilt-lacquered wood figure of an enthroned
於1919至1928年任上海公共租界工部局警務處副官，其父為一名新教 Buddha, 17th/18th century, which was sold at Christie’s New York,
傳教士；第二次世界大戰爆發後，舉家回到英格蘭。 22-23 March 2018, lot 1041.

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue. FINE CHINESE ART | 89