10th Apr, 2025 11:00
TWO-DAY AUCTION: Fine Asian Art, Buddhism and Hinduism
38
A MASSIVE BLACK LIMESTONE HEAD OF BUDDHA, NORTHERN QI DYNASTY
€7,500
€15,000
A buyer’s premium of 30.00% (including VAT) applies to the hammer price of this lot if your bid is successful.
China, 550-577. Finely carved, the serene face with heavy-lidded downcast eyes below gently arched eyebrows centered by a large and deeply recessed urna, above bow-shaped lips forming a gentle smile, framed by a square hairline and pendulous earlobes. The hair arranged in neatly incised snail-shell curls over the domed ushnisha.
Provenance: Alan Hartman, Rare Art, New York, by c. 1979/80. A private collection in Florida, United States, acquired from the above, and thence by descent. Michael B. Weisbrod, New York, acquired from the above. The back of the neck with an old label stamped with an inventory number, ‘390’. Alan Hartman (1930-2023) was an influential American art dealer, who took over his parents’ antique business in Manhattan and established the legendary Rare Art Gallery on Madison Avenue, with further locations in Dallas and Palm Beach. His wife Simone (née Horowitz) already served as assistant manager of the New York gallery before the couple married in 1975, and together they built a renowned collection for over half a century and became noted art patrons, enriching the collections of important museums including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (which opened the Alan and Simone Hartman Galleries in 2013) as well as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Brooklyn Museum in New York. Alan Hartman has been described as the greatest antiques dealer of our generation, and was widely recognized as a world authority in Chinese jade, bronzes, and Asian works of art. Michael B. Weisbrod is a noted scholar of Chinese art, who has published extensively on the subject over a time span of more than 50 years. In 1972, Michael joined his father Dr. Gerald Weisbrod’s Asian art gallery in Toronto, Canada. The father-and-son team opened their New York location on Madison Avenue in 1977, and during the next 45 years the gallery held a significant number of exhibitions, selling to museums and private collectors across the globe, eventually adding further locations in Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Condition: Good condition, extensive wear. Signs of weathering and erosion, obvious losses, nicks, scratches, water marks, natural fissures, a small chip to the lips, touchups to the eyelids, nose, and chin.
Weight: 36.6 kg (incl. stand)
Dimensions: Height 36 cm (excl. stand), 62.5 cm (incl. stand)
Mounted on a modern stand. (2)
Buddha heads from the Northern Qi dynasty (550–577) are distinguished by their refined elegance, elongated proportions, softly rounded features, and composed expression. The influence of Gandharan and Central Asian styles is evident in the gentle modeling of the face and high, arched brows. The urna, sometimes deeply recessed and notably large—as seen in the present lot—is an homage to earlier Kushan-period heads, emphasizing spiritual presence. Carved from a massive block of black limestone, this head retains microscopic traces of pigment and gilding, hallmarks of the period. The 6th century saw a flourishing of Buddhist art, fueled by foreign influences and lavish patronage, leading to the creation of grand cave temples whose sculptures continue to captivate audiences to this day. The present head also reflects the Qi aristocracy’s admiration for the refined, exotic aesthetics of the contemporary Gupta style in India.
Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related limestone head of Buddha, dated 550 to 577, 44.5 cm high, in the Worcester Art Museum, object number 1914.24. Compare a closely related head of Buddha, with a similar large recess for the urna, dated to the Northern Qi dynasty, 90 cm high, in the Victoria & Albert Museum, accession number A.98-1927. For another example of a Northern Qi stone head with a large circular recess for the urna, see the head of a bodhisattva formerly in the Robert Rousset Collection and sold at Bonhams Paris, 25 October 2022, lot 32.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 20 March 2015, lot 756
Price: USD 389,000 or approx. EUR 497,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A large grey limestone head of Buddha, China, Northern Qi-Sui dynasty (AD 550-618)
Expert remark: Compare the related square form of the face, the narrow almond-shaped eyes, the thin curved eyebrows, lined lips, the incised alar wing of the nose, the snail-shell curls, and the size (38.1 cm).
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 20 March 2015, lot 754
Price: USD 185,000 or approx. EUR 236,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A large grey limestone head of Buddha, China, Northern Qi dynasty (AD 550-577)
Expert remark: Compare the related square form of the face, the narrow almond-shaped eyes, the thin curved eyebrows, lined lips, the incised alar wing of the nose, and the snail-shell curls. Note the size (43.8 cm).
China, 550-577. Finely carved, the serene face with heavy-lidded downcast eyes below gently arched eyebrows centered by a large and deeply recessed urna, above bow-shaped lips forming a gentle smile, framed by a square hairline and pendulous earlobes. The hair arranged in neatly incised snail-shell curls over the domed ushnisha.
Provenance: Alan Hartman, Rare Art, New York, by c. 1979/80. A private collection in Florida, United States, acquired from the above, and thence by descent. Michael B. Weisbrod, New York, acquired from the above. The back of the neck with an old label stamped with an inventory number, ‘390’. Alan Hartman (1930-2023) was an influential American art dealer, who took over his parents’ antique business in Manhattan and established the legendary Rare Art Gallery on Madison Avenue, with further locations in Dallas and Palm Beach. His wife Simone (née Horowitz) already served as assistant manager of the New York gallery before the couple married in 1975, and together they built a renowned collection for over half a century and became noted art patrons, enriching the collections of important museums including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (which opened the Alan and Simone Hartman Galleries in 2013) as well as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Brooklyn Museum in New York. Alan Hartman has been described as the greatest antiques dealer of our generation, and was widely recognized as a world authority in Chinese jade, bronzes, and Asian works of art. Michael B. Weisbrod is a noted scholar of Chinese art, who has published extensively on the subject over a time span of more than 50 years. In 1972, Michael joined his father Dr. Gerald Weisbrod’s Asian art gallery in Toronto, Canada. The father-and-son team opened their New York location on Madison Avenue in 1977, and during the next 45 years the gallery held a significant number of exhibitions, selling to museums and private collectors across the globe, eventually adding further locations in Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Condition: Good condition, extensive wear. Signs of weathering and erosion, obvious losses, nicks, scratches, water marks, natural fissures, a small chip to the lips, touchups to the eyelids, nose, and chin.
Weight: 36.6 kg (incl. stand)
Dimensions: Height 36 cm (excl. stand), 62.5 cm (incl. stand)
Mounted on a modern stand. (2)
Buddha heads from the Northern Qi dynasty (550–577) are distinguished by their refined elegance, elongated proportions, softly rounded features, and composed expression. The influence of Gandharan and Central Asian styles is evident in the gentle modeling of the face and high, arched brows. The urna, sometimes deeply recessed and notably large—as seen in the present lot—is an homage to earlier Kushan-period heads, emphasizing spiritual presence. Carved from a massive block of black limestone, this head retains microscopic traces of pigment and gilding, hallmarks of the period. The 6th century saw a flourishing of Buddhist art, fueled by foreign influences and lavish patronage, leading to the creation of grand cave temples whose sculptures continue to captivate audiences to this day. The present head also reflects the Qi aristocracy’s admiration for the refined, exotic aesthetics of the contemporary Gupta style in India.
Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related limestone head of Buddha, dated 550 to 577, 44.5 cm high, in the Worcester Art Museum, object number 1914.24. Compare a closely related head of Buddha, with a similar large recess for the urna, dated to the Northern Qi dynasty, 90 cm high, in the Victoria & Albert Museum, accession number A.98-1927. For another example of a Northern Qi stone head with a large circular recess for the urna, see the head of a bodhisattva formerly in the Robert Rousset Collection and sold at Bonhams Paris, 25 October 2022, lot 32.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 20 March 2015, lot 756
Price: USD 389,000 or approx. EUR 497,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A large grey limestone head of Buddha, China, Northern Qi-Sui dynasty (AD 550-618)
Expert remark: Compare the related square form of the face, the narrow almond-shaped eyes, the thin curved eyebrows, lined lips, the incised alar wing of the nose, the snail-shell curls, and the size (38.1 cm).
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 20 March 2015, lot 754
Price: USD 185,000 or approx. EUR 236,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A large grey limestone head of Buddha, China, Northern Qi dynasty (AD 550-577)
Expert remark: Compare the related square form of the face, the narrow almond-shaped eyes, the thin curved eyebrows, lined lips, the incised alar wing of the nose, and the snail-shell curls. Note the size (43.8 cm).
Natural Light Images for Logged-in Users Only
You can find images of this item taken under natural daylight below. Click on an image to zoom in or save.
If there are no natural light images for this item, please email us at office@zacke.at or use the request form below.
Log in or sign up to view the natural light images.
Click here to request more information on this lot.
Zacke Live Online Bidding
Our online bidding platform makes it easier than ever to bid in our auctions! When you bid through our website, you can take advantage of our premium buyer's terms without incurring any additional online bidding surcharges.
To bid live online, you'll need to create an online account. Once your account is created and your identity is verified, you can register to bid in an auction up to 12 hours before the auction begins.
Intended Spend and Bid Limits
When you register to bid in an online auction, you will need to share your intended maximum spending budget for the auction. We will then review your intended spend and set a bid limit for you. Once you have pre-registered for a live online auction, you can see your intended spend and bid limit by going to 'Account Settings' and clicking on 'Live Bidding Registrations'.
Your bid limit will be the maximum amount you can bid during the auction. Your bid limit is for the hammer price and is not affected by the buyer’s premium and VAT. For example, if you have a bid limit of €1,000 and place two winning bids for €300 and €200, then you will only be able to bid €500 for the rest of the auction. If you try to place a bid that is higher than €500, you will not be able to do so.
Online Absentee and Telephone Bids
You can now leave absentee and telephone bids on our website!
Absentee Bidding
Once you've created an account and your identity is verified, you can leave your absentee bid directly on the lot page. We will contact you when your bids have been confirmed.
Telephone Bidding
Once you've created an account and your identity is verified, you can leave telephone bids online. We will contact you when your bids have been confirmed.
Classic Absentee and Telephone Bidding Form
You can still submit absentee and telephone bids by email or fax if you prefer. Simply fill out the Absentee Bidding/Telephone bidding form and return it to us by email at office@zacke.at or by fax at +43 (1) 532 04 52 20. You can download the PDF from our Upcoming Auctions page.
How-To Guides
How to Create Your Personal Zacke Account
How to Register to Bid on Zacke Live
How to Leave Absentee Bids Online
How to Leave Telephone Bids Online
中文版本的操作指南
创建新账号
注册Zacke Live在线直播竞拍（免平台费）
缺席投标和电话投标
Third-Party Bidding
We partner with best-in-class third-party partners to make it easy for you to bid online in the channel of your choice. Please note that if you bid with one of our third-party online partners, then there will be a live bidding surcharge on top of your final purchase price. You can find all of our fees here. Here's a full list of our third-party partners:
- 51 Bid Live
- EpaiLive
- ArtFoxLive
- Invaluable
- LiveAuctioneers
- the-saleroom
- lot-tissimo
- Drouot
Please note that we place different auctions on different platforms. For example, in general, we only place Chinese art auctions on 51 Bid Live.
Bidding in Person
You must register to bid in person and will be assigned a paddle at the auction. Please contact us at office@zacke.at or +43 (1) 532 04 52 for the latest local health and safety guidelines.
Auction: TWO-DAY AUCTION: Fine Asian Art, Buddhism and Hinduism, 10th Apr, 2025
Galerie Zacke is privileged to present a remarkable two-day live auction event, featuring 684 works of art from China, Southeast Asia, India, and beyond.
The highlight is our flagship live auction on Day 1, showcasing lots 1-269, Among the many standout pieces are a ge-type octagonal bowl from the Southern Song dynasty, part of the Jules Speelman collection (lot 137), a rare 1st-2nd century gold figure of a mother goddess from the Zelnik István Southeast Asian Gold Museum collection (lot 176), as well as a group of four parcel-gilt bronze Bodhisattvas from the Bao-Xiang Lo Palace and Temple, with Qianlong marks and of the period (lot 52).
Day 2 continues with our general auction (lots 270-684), offering seasoned collectors and new bidders alike an opportunity to enhance their collections. Learn more.
Classic Bidding Form Telephone Bidding Form
Viewing
31 March - 9 April 2025
Monday - Friday, 10 am - 6 pm
as well as by appointment
Our Terms and Conditions
As part of our ongoing efforts to keep our auctions fair and transparent, we encourage you to read our terms and conditions thoroughly. We urge you to read through §34-50) to ensure you understand them. These terms are specifically designed to protect all serious and committed buyers from bidding against non-payers who attempt to inflate prices without the intent of paying their auction bills.
For further reading about non-payers at auction, go here: https://www.zacke.at/aboutnonpayers/.
The main points include the following:
- Bidders must complete their due diligence and clarify all questions about the objects before the auction. After the auction, Zacke will not answer questions from bidders unless the purchase price has been paid in full. Of course, this does not apply to questions concerning shipping, insurance, customs, etc.
- A sale cancellation of any kind after the fall of the hammer is not possible. The only exception to this fundamental rule is our guarantee of authenticity [the Guarantee].
- A Guarantee Claim, however, can only be raised after the purchase price has been paid in full by the buyer and within 45 days after the auction day.
If you have any questions about our policies, please get in touch with us at office@zacke.at.
By placing a bid, you agree to our Terms of Auction and Terms and Conditions.
