Page 132 - Christie's Important Chinese Art Nov 3 2020 London

THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN
112
A RARE GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF MANJUSHRI
XUANDE INCISED SIX-CHARACTER PRESENTATION MARK AND OF THE PERIOD (1426-1435)
The figure is cast seated in dhyanasana on a double-lotus base with four arms. The upper right hand is
wielding a sword above his head and the lower left hand is holding a lotus stem. The body is richly covered
with elaborate jewellery chains and a dhoti gathered in folds around the crossed legs. The face is shown
with downcast eyes and the head is adorned with a floral diadem just in front of the high chignon. The lotus
base is incised with the presentation mark reading Da Ming Xuande nianshi, ‘Bestowed in the Great Ming
Xuande Period’.
9 3/8 in. (23.8 cm.) high
£80,000-120,000 US$110,000-150,000
€88,000-130,000
Although examples bearing a Yongle presentation mark of this four-armed emanation of the Manjusri
are known, no other figure inscribed with a Xuande presentation mark appears to have been published.
Compare with published Yongle-marked examples such as the figure in the British Museum, London,
illustrated in Buddhism Art and Faith, 1985, no. 308; in the Berti Aschmann Foundation of Tibetan
Art, illustrated in On the Path to Enlightenment, 1995, no. 67; in the collection of the State Hermitage
Museum, St Petersburg, illustrated in Wisdom and Compassion, 1996, no. 30 and formerly in the
Speelman Collection, sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 7 October 2006, lot 804.

明宣德 鎏金銅文殊菩薩坐像 「大明宣德年施」款

(mark)

130 In addition to the hammer price, a Buyer’s Premium (plus VAT) is payable. Other taxes and/or an Artist Resale Royalty
fee are also payable if the lot has a tax or λ symbol. Check Section D of the Conditions of Sale at the back of this catalogue.