Page 141 - Bonhams Fine Chinese Art November 2018

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A GILT-LACQUERED BRONZE FIGURE OF WEITUO A BRONZE FIGURE OF THE GODDESS OF THE MORNING
Ming Dynasty CLOUDS, BIXIA YUANJUN
The guardian of Buddhist teachings standing astride and dressed as Ming Dynasty
a warrior in finely cast armour over flowing robes, the palms pressed The lady Immortal cast seated with a serene face framed by an
together in reverent anjalimudra, the face with a gentle expression elaborate headdress of curling feathers issuing from a single phoenix,
beneath an elaborate helmet. the hands clasped at the front of her body, wearing a finely-layered
41cm (1/8in) high. robe adorned with a ruyi-shaped ornament around her chest.
39cm (15 1/4in) high.
£8,000 - 10,000
CNY72,000 - 91,000 £6,000 - 8,000
CNY54,000 - 72,000
明 銅漆金韋馱立像
明 銅碧霞元君坐像
Weituo (Sankrit name Skanda) is a devoted dharmapala, guardian
of Buddhist monasteries who guards the Buddhist teachings. Large The figure can be identified as Bixia Yuanjun, also known as the
figures of this type, dressed as a Chinese warrior in the elaborate Sovereign of the Clouds of Dawn or the Goddess of the Morning
armour worn by military heroes, are usually placed in the first hall of a Clouds, by the representation of the phoenix on the headdress.
Buddhist monastery. The goddess was the daughter of the male god of Mount Tai, the
easternmost of the Five Sacred Mountains in Shandong Province,
Compare with a related gilt-bronze statue of Weituo, Ming dynasty, where the Palace of the Clouds of Dawn, Bixia Gong, was built at the
which was sold at Sotheby’s New York, 17 September 2016, lot 1137. top of the mountain as her shrine during the Ming dynasty. Figures of
Bixia Yuanjun are a personification of the yin force and made for use on
Daoist altars.

See a gilt-bronze figure of Bixia Yuanjun, Ming dynasty, in the British
Museum, London (ac.no.1908,0420.6). See also a larger gilt-lacquered
bronze figure of Bixia Yuanjun, late Ming dynasty, which was sold at
Bonhams Hong Kong, 29 May 2018, lot 10.

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 | 137