A RARE AND LARGE GILT-LACQUERED BRONZE BUST OF BUDDHA, EARLY MANDALAY PERIOD
This lot is a museum deaccession and is therefore offered without reserve

Expert’s note: This superb bust represents the high point of the Mandalay period for traditional Burmese sculpture. It most likely belonged to an exceptionally large seated figure—standing figures were more commonly carved from wood during this period—of around two meters height.

Burma, 1853-1948, and most likely early in this period. Finely cast, the face sensitively modeled in a serene expression marked by heavy-lidded, almond-shaped eyes inlaid with mother-of-pearl and black lacquer, below gently arched brows centered by the long prominent nose above full bow-shaped lips forming an enigmatic smile, flanked by elongated earlobes, the hair arranged in tight curls over the high ushnisha and secured by a headband richly inlaid with floral designs in ruby-red, emerald-green, and mirror glass.

Provenance Galerie Hardt (established in 1976), Radevormwald, Germany, before 2020. Acquired by the gallery’s founder Peter Hardt (b. 1946) during his extensive travels in Asia, the first of which occurred during a formative world tour in 1973. Throughout his storied career, Peter Kienzle-Hardt organized countless exhibitions and participated in major international art fairs. He made many important contacts during this time and eventually met the Kienzle siblings, who shared his passion for Asian art and culture. A strong bond and deep friendship developed, ultimately leading to the creation of the Museum für Asiatische Kunst decades later in 2014. While the museum’s permanent exhibition predominantly comprised pieces from the Kienzle Family Collection, Peter Kienzle-Hardt supplemented it with objects from his own collection. Before his death in 2019, Horst Kienzle bequeathed his entire property to Peter and legally adopted him as his son, who has been using the name Peter Kienzle-Hardt ever since.
Condition: Overall good condition with wear, manufacturing irregularities, obvious losses, minor fatigue cracks, few nicks, light surface scratches, extensive rubbing, flaking, and losses to lacquer, remnants of pigment, expected minor losses to inlays. The bronze with a fine, naturally grown, dark patina.

Weight: 33.9 kg (incl. stand)
Dimensions: Height 48.5 cm (excl. stand), 62.5 cm (incl. stand)

Mounted on an associated metal stand. (2)

Literature comparison:
Compare related examples in the Guimet Museum, Paris, accession number MA6210, and in the Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore, accession number 2014-00461. See also a related gilt-lacquered wood figure of Buddha with similar glass inlay, dated c. 1850, 105.4 cm high, in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, accession number 89.55.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s Paris, 31 October 2006, lot 542
Price: EUR 8,400 or approx. EUR 11,500 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Burmese, Mandalay style, bronze head of Buddha Sakyamuni, 18^th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling and manner of casting with particularly similar eyes. Note the size (50 cm) and earlier dating.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 29 March 2019, lot 41
Price: HKD 250,625 or approx. EUR 35,200 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A copper alloy and lacquer seated Buddha in Maravijaya, Myanmar, Mandalay period
Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling and manner of casting with similar features, robe, glass inlay, and expression. Note the red and black lacquer and the size (100 cm).