Page 150 - Bonhams Fine Chinese Art November 2018

THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN 士紳藏品
Lots 254-255

254
A VERY FINE AND RARE GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF A SEATED Meticulously cast with elaborate jewellery and intricate floral scrolls
AVALOKITESHVARA decorating the hems of the thin robes, and wearing a slim band
17th century around the head, the present figure appears to have been inspired
Finely cast seated on a rocky outcrop in lalitasana, with a by Buddhist bronzes cast during the 14th century. See, for example,
contemplative face with long pendulous ears and beard, crowned with a gilt-bronze figure of Avalokiteshvara, 14th century, from the
a band around the bald pate, wearing long flowing robes open at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, illustrated by C.Y.Watt, The
chest, the right hand holding a bell, attired in robes finely incised with World of the Khubilai Khan, New York, fig.149, pp.115; another gilt-
floral hems and adorned with beaded jewellery. bronze figure of Avalokiteshvara, 14th century, more similar to the
14cm (5 1/2in) high. present figure, was sold at Sotheby’s New York, 19 March 2007,
lot 740. The present figure likely depicts Avalokiteshvara in the
£5,000 - 8,000 manifestation known as ‘Southern Seas’ Nanhai, as suggested by the
CNY45,000 - 72,000 rocky pedestal on which he rests, which represents Mount Potalaka.

Compare with a related gilt-bronze figure of Avalokiteshvara, Ming
十七世紀 銅鎏金男相觀音趺坐像 dynasty, 14th/15th century, which was sold at Sotheby’s London, 11
November 2015, lot 198.
Provenance: Sir William Henry Wilkinson (1858-1930), Consul General
in China between 1900 and 1917, and thence by descent

來源：
William Henry Wilkinson爵士（1858-1930年）收藏，1900至1917年
期間任駐華領事，並由後人保存迄今

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