17th Oct, 2024 11:00
TWO-DAY AUCTION: Fine Asian Art, Buddhism and Hinduism
44
† A MONUMENTAL AND EXCEEDINGLY RARE GILT AND PAINTED SANDSTONE HEAD OF GUANYIN, NORTHERN SONG DYNASTY
€10,000
€20,000
A buyer’s premium of 30.00% (including VAT) applies to the hammer price of this lot if your bid is successful.
Expert authentication: Dr. Chang Qing has authenticated this lot as being in the typical style of the Northern Song period, noting its female face influenced by Tang-style bodhisattva figures and the charmingly abstract carving of the crown's details. These features exemplify the high-level craftsmanship of the era. The broad crown on the head is reminiscent of Northern Song bodhisattva images found in southern China, particularly Sichuan province (see literature comparison for an example at Ball State University). A notarized copy of Dr. Chang's expertise, dated April 20, 2021, in the State of New York, accompanies this lot.
Dr. Chang holds a Ph.D. in Art History from the University of Kansas and has held prestigious positions, including post-doctoral fellow at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and senior research fellow at the Freer and Sackler Galleries of the Smithsonian Institute. He has conducted extensive research in China, participating in archaeological excavations at various historical sites. Dr. Chang is the author of several influential works, including Compassionate Beings in Metal and Stone: Chinese Buddhist Sculptures from The Freer Gallery of Art (2016) and Light of the Buddha in the Desert: Essays on Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang from 5th-14th Centuries (2012). He is currently a professor at Arts College, Sichuan University.
China, 960-1127. Finely detailed with sensuous volumes, the figure features a full, fleshy face with downcast eyes, arched eyebrows, and gently smiling bow-shaped lips. A circular recessed urna adorns the forehead, while long, pendulous earlobes with floral studs are framed by neatly incised hair. The tall, elaborate crown is centered by an image of Buddha Amitabha, flanked by two disciples, with two smaller seated Buddhas on either side amid interlacing cloud scrolls.
Provenance: From a private collection in New York, United States.
Condition: Very good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, signs of weathering and erosion, encrustations, obvious losses, few nicks, scratches. Extensive remnants of ancient gilt and pigments. Displaying exceptionally well.
Dimensions: Height 99 cm (excl. stand), 126 cm (incl. stand)
Mounted on an associated stand. (2)
Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related sandstone head of a Bodhisattva, Sichuan, 10th-12th century, in the David Owsley Museum of Art, Ball State University, accession number L2014.007.000. Compare a related gray limestone head of Avalokiteshvara, dated to the Song dynasty, illustrated by Osvald Sirén, Chinese Sculpture from the Fifth to the Fourteenth Century, London, 1970, pl. 563C.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams London, 17 May 2018, lot 64
Price: GBP 62,500 or approx. EUR 101,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare limestone head of Guanyin, 12th/13th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling and manner of carving with similar crown centered by Amitabha amid interlacing scroll. Note the much smaller size (43.3 cm).
Expert authentication: Dr. Chang Qing has authenticated this lot as being in the typical style of the Northern Song period, noting its female face influenced by Tang-style bodhisattva figures and the charmingly abstract carving of the crown's details. These features exemplify the high-level craftsmanship of the era. The broad crown on the head is reminiscent of Northern Song bodhisattva images found in southern China, particularly Sichuan province (see literature comparison for an example at Ball State University). A notarized copy of Dr. Chang's expertise, dated April 20, 2021, in the State of New York, accompanies this lot.
Dr. Chang holds a Ph.D. in Art History from the University of Kansas and has held prestigious positions, including post-doctoral fellow at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and senior research fellow at the Freer and Sackler Galleries of the Smithsonian Institute. He has conducted extensive research in China, participating in archaeological excavations at various historical sites. Dr. Chang is the author of several influential works, including Compassionate Beings in Metal and Stone: Chinese Buddhist Sculptures from The Freer Gallery of Art (2016) and Light of the Buddha in the Desert: Essays on Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang from 5th-14th Centuries (2012). He is currently a professor at Arts College, Sichuan University.
China, 960-1127. Finely detailed with sensuous volumes, the figure features a full, fleshy face with downcast eyes, arched eyebrows, and gently smiling bow-shaped lips. A circular recessed urna adorns the forehead, while long, pendulous earlobes with floral studs are framed by neatly incised hair. The tall, elaborate crown is centered by an image of Buddha Amitabha, flanked by two disciples, with two smaller seated Buddhas on either side amid interlacing cloud scrolls.
Provenance: From a private collection in New York, United States.
Condition: Very good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, signs of weathering and erosion, encrustations, obvious losses, few nicks, scratches. Extensive remnants of ancient gilt and pigments. Displaying exceptionally well.
Dimensions: Height 99 cm (excl. stand), 126 cm (incl. stand)
Mounted on an associated stand. (2)
Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related sandstone head of a Bodhisattva, Sichuan, 10th-12th century, in the David Owsley Museum of Art, Ball State University, accession number L2014.007.000. Compare a related gray limestone head of Avalokiteshvara, dated to the Song dynasty, illustrated by Osvald Sirén, Chinese Sculpture from the Fifth to the Fourteenth Century, London, 1970, pl. 563C.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams London, 17 May 2018, lot 64
Price: GBP 62,500 or approx. EUR 101,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare limestone head of Guanyin, 12th/13th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling and manner of carving with similar crown centered by Amitabha amid interlacing scroll. Note the much smaller size (43.3 cm).
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Auction: TWO-DAY AUCTION: Fine Asian Art, Buddhism and Hinduism, 17th Oct, 2024
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Galerie Zacke is thrilled to present a two-day live auction event showcasing 700 works of art from China, Southeast Asia, India, and beyond.
The flagship auction will take place on Day 1 of the sale (lots 1-278) and features an inspired selection of impressive pieces from notable collections. Highlights include an important white marble torso of Buddha Maitreya from the Tang dynasty (lot 38), a magnificent pair of Imperial zitan ‘elephant’ stands likely originating from the Forbidden City or Summer Palace (lot 89), and an extremely rare gold rain drum from the ancient kingdoms of Cham (lot 238).
The general auction will follow on Day 2 (lots 279-700), offering opportunities for both seasoned collectors and new bidders.
Museum Deaccessions include the Wou Lien-Pai Museum and the Zelnik István Southeast Asian Gold Museum.
Notable Collector’s Provenances include Sir Elton John; Kartika Soekarno-Seegers, the daughter of Sokarno; His Exalted Highness, the Nizam of Hyderabad, Osman Ali Khan (1886-1967); and Xu Yingkui (1830-1903), Viceroy of Min-Zhe, Guangzhou, China; as well as many prestigious names such as Alan and Simone Hartman, Onno Janssens, Dr. Johan Carl Kempe, Nellie and Basil Ionides, David Taylor, and Captain William Alexander ‘Bill’ Palmer CBE DL.
Historic Gallery and Dealership Provenances include Jules Speelman, Sam Bernstein, Jacques Barrère, Michael Goedhuis, Leonardo Vigorelli, Sydney L. Moss Ltd, Ralph M. Chait Galleries, Robert Kleiner, Roger Keverne Ltd, and Spink & Son.
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