10th Apr, 2025 11:00
TWO-DAY AUCTION: Fine Asian Art, Buddhism and Hinduism
98
A WHITE JADE FIGURE OF THE SEATED BUDDHA, 18TH-19TH CENTURY
Sold for €4,160
including Buyer's Premium
China. Finely carved seated in dhyanasana on a double lotus base with beaded decoration around the waist, his hands folded above the lap and holding a water vessel, the oval face with downcast eyes above bow-shaped lips forming a gentle smile, the hair finely incised and tied in a tall topknot. The chest adorned with an elaborate beaded necklace accentuated in gilt. The translucent stone is of an even white tone with few icy inclusions.
Provenance: A private collection in Taiwan, and thence by direct descent.
Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear. The stone with natural inclusions and fissures, some of which may develop into small hairline cracks over time. Remnants of gilt, some of which may be of a later date than the jade. The carved wood stand shows some rubbing to the gilt and light surface scratches.
Weight: 66 g (excl. stand), 107 g (incl. stand)
Dimensions: Height 8.3 cm (excl. stand), 11.7 cm (incl. stand)
With a neatly carved and gilt-lacquered wood double-lotus base dating from the late 19th to early 20th century. (2)
Buddhism flourished during the Qing dynasty, as the early Manchu sympathies with Mongolian Buddhism prior to their conquest of China expanded to embrace Tibetan Lamaism. The reigns of the three great Qing emperors, Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong in particular, witnessed a great resurgence of Tibetan Buddhist patronage. Not merely for the sake of political expediency, the Qianlong Emperor took an enthusiastic personal interest in the religion, and fostered the devotions of his mother, the Empress Xiaoshen, with lavish commissions of Buddhist sculptures and paintings for occasions such as her birthday.
Literature comparison:
See a related white jade figure of this type but larger in size, in the collection of Beijing Palace Museum, exhibited in Noble Virtuosity: Imperial Jades of the Qing Dynasty from the Palace Museum, Macau Museum of Art, Macau, 2012, cat. no. 72.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams London, 12 November 2015, lot 165
Price: GBP 32,500 or approx. EUR 58,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A small white jade figure of Buddha, 19th century
Expert remark: Compare the related stone and manner of carving with a similar color and fine incision work. Note the smaller size (5.7 cm).
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 4 December 2024, lot 9507
Price: HKD 192,000 or approx. EUR 24,000 converted at the time of writing
Description: A pale celadon jade seated Buddha, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period
Expert remark: Compare the closely related stone and manner of carving. Note the size (13.4 cm).
China. Finely carved seated in dhyanasana on a double lotus base with beaded decoration around the waist, his hands folded above the lap and holding a water vessel, the oval face with downcast eyes above bow-shaped lips forming a gentle smile, the hair finely incised and tied in a tall topknot. The chest adorned with an elaborate beaded necklace accentuated in gilt. The translucent stone is of an even white tone with few icy inclusions.
Provenance: A private collection in Taiwan, and thence by direct descent.
Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear. The stone with natural inclusions and fissures, some of which may develop into small hairline cracks over time. Remnants of gilt, some of which may be of a later date than the jade. The carved wood stand shows some rubbing to the gilt and light surface scratches.
Weight: 66 g (excl. stand), 107 g (incl. stand)
Dimensions: Height 8.3 cm (excl. stand), 11.7 cm (incl. stand)
With a neatly carved and gilt-lacquered wood double-lotus base dating from the late 19th to early 20th century. (2)
Buddhism flourished during the Qing dynasty, as the early Manchu sympathies with Mongolian Buddhism prior to their conquest of China expanded to embrace Tibetan Lamaism. The reigns of the three great Qing emperors, Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong in particular, witnessed a great resurgence of Tibetan Buddhist patronage. Not merely for the sake of political expediency, the Qianlong Emperor took an enthusiastic personal interest in the religion, and fostered the devotions of his mother, the Empress Xiaoshen, with lavish commissions of Buddhist sculptures and paintings for occasions such as her birthday.
Literature comparison:
See a related white jade figure of this type but larger in size, in the collection of Beijing Palace Museum, exhibited in Noble Virtuosity: Imperial Jades of the Qing Dynasty from the Palace Museum, Macau Museum of Art, Macau, 2012, cat. no. 72.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams London, 12 November 2015, lot 165
Price: GBP 32,500 or approx. EUR 58,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A small white jade figure of Buddha, 19th century
Expert remark: Compare the related stone and manner of carving with a similar color and fine incision work. Note the smaller size (5.7 cm).
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 4 December 2024, lot 9507
Price: HKD 192,000 or approx. EUR 24,000 converted at the time of writing
Description: A pale celadon jade seated Buddha, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period
Expert remark: Compare the closely related stone and manner of carving. Note the size (13.4 cm).
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