Description:

This lot is oversized / heavy and may require 3rd party shipping - please inquire before bidding.

East Asia, China, Tang Dynasty, ca. 7th to 10th century CE. A splendid marble sculpture of a bodhisattva standing atop a lotus flower pedestal, carved in the round, and elaborately adorned with beaded necklaces in scalloped tiers and jeweled pendants. An intricate, multi-strand necklace harness crosses over the sensual, rounded belly below which hangs the billowing folds of cascading drapery, covering the legs and reinforcing a sense of movement. The pronounced tribhanga pose, with the left knee slightly bent; the fleshy, volumetric treatment of the body; and the thin drapery reflect continuing Indian influence, here of the Gupta period (A.D. 320–600). Size: 9.5" Diameter x 27.6" H (24.1 cm x 70.1 cm)

The evolution of Chinese Buddhist sculpture from archaic and columnar to fleshy and sensuous reached its culmination in the Tang dynasty, by which time Chinese Buddhist sculpture in the round shows a masterful adaptation of foreign Indian style to indigenous traditions. The finest Tang sculptures are voluptuous and tactile, their sumptuous garments carved to accentuate the contours of the body, with flowing scarves and clinging ropes of beads to emphasize its curves.

In Buddhist belief, Bodhisattvas are among the most compassionate beings in the universe, devoting themselves to saving the suffering and helping others achieve enlightenment and Buddhahood. In Chinese art from this time period and earlier, they are depicted as less austere than Buddhas, with graceful postures and elegant garments, a nod to the riches of the Northwestern Chinese Silk Road. This piece is no exception.

This item is oversized and requires special shipping. Please inquire prior to bidding.

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

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#189980

    Condition:
  • Old losses to left arm and head; new loss to right arm. Nicks, chips, and abrasions to surface, commensurate with age. Otherwise, nice remaining detail with smooth surfaces and good encrustations to surface.

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November 15, 2024 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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