Page 49 - Bonhams NYC Chinese works of Art March 2019

PROPERTY FROM THE HOBART COLLECTION
528 Y
AN VERY RARE GILT AND ENAMELED
PORCELAIN FIGURE OF AMITAYUS
Qianlong
Portrayed seated in dhyanasana, the hands held
in dhyanamudra and supporting a amrita kalasha
adorned with jewels picked out in iron-red enamel,
wearing sanghati with borders of undulating lines
between raised pearls, the serene expression with
downcast eyes, flanked by elongated earlobes
below the blue enameled hair, the ushnisha crowned
with a jewel, wood stand.
4 5/8in (11.8cm) high (2).

$10,000 - 15,000

清乾隆 描金加彩無量壽佛坐像

Provenance:
Virginia Hobart (1876-1958), and thence by descent

The vase held by this finely modeled figure identifies
him as Amitayus, the deity invoked to cure illness
and future rebirth in Western pureland. The vase
is believed to contain the ambrosia of immortality,
nectar pills and is topped by a branch of the
Ashoka tree, symbolizing long life and good health,
thereby clearly displaying Amitayus’ association with
longevity.

Brightly colored porcelain images in the famille rose
palette from the Qianlong period are well known.
However the present lot is particularly rare in that
it was made to imitate a Tibetan-style gilt-bronze
figure.

FINE CHINESE ART | 47