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Lot
Number
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B000028 |
| Lot
Title |
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Chinese Gilt Bronze Figure of a Bodhisattva, Avakokitesvara |
| Date
of Origin |
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Ming Dynasty |
| Country
of Origin |
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China |
| Material
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Gilt Bronze |
| Measurements |
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10.5x2.5(16.5x6.5) cm |
| Lot
Quantity |
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2 |
| Estimate |
: |
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| Description:
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Quite boring in ShenZhen by myself, so I went browsing around ShenZhen Antique Market. However, very seldom I can find good stuff with reasonable price in there.
Met with this Mr. Chiu, also came from Taiwan, ran an antique shop in ShenZhen and was doing textile business before retiring. Very nice and generous guy, and kept offering me tea, fruit, but just smoked too much. He has many kind of Buddha collections, including bronze, wooden, stone, and even porcelain. Most of them were collected decades ago in either Taiwan or China. I noticed one small figure of Samantabhadra, price offered was reasonable and I thought that is great, must be my lucky day. I selected several pieces together and was hoping the price would be even better with this package deal. The owner saw I like Buddha very much and really care about them, so offered me a great deal to make a friend with me. I advised him not to smoke too much, and I could bring two bottles of red wine to him when I see him next time. He was very happy about that and kept smiling.
I bought this Avakokitesvara together with other three Buddha. With Sino-Tibetan style, made of gilt bronze, the gilding has been rubbed off in many places and mottled in color, but this gives the statue even more effect of primitive simplicity and increases its vigor. The body has visible and aged greenish rusty and reddish spots. It came with one original small stand, but I did not think it was impressive enough, so I asked another craftsman to make a beautiful sandalwood stand with holy aureole. I then respectfully put Avakokitesvara on the new stand, such a great match, and make this statue totally different with very strong style and vigor. I imagined that could because the seated Guanyin (lot 24) I bought earlier brings me good luck, and let me find these great Buddha.
This elegant sculpture is representing of the Buddha wearing monastic robes, standing on a lotus pedestal, wearing five-leaved crown fastened by a ribbon with swirling ends, Bound hair falling down to the shoulder, a pair of circular earrings, and with necklace, bracelets on the upper arms, wrists, and ankles. Both eyes looking straight peacefully, and showing an appearance of benevolent face and serene expression. Left hand holds a bowl, and shows in the mudra of meditation (dhyana-mudra), while right hand raising up shows abhaya mudra of protection. Her upper body is dressed in a double-collar rope incised with delicate design and covering both shoulders, while the rope also draping down naturally to lower body, adorned with multiple jeweled necklace, and limbs with bracelets, very real and realistic. There is opening hold (covered) on the back, should be used for stuffing in the early date. |
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| Condition
and Additional Specification: |
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The bronze is in an excellent state of preservation. While the high points of the gilding are somewhat rubbed, as can easily be seen in the photos, most of the original gilding remains. The details are incised and well delineated. There is some minor encrustation under the base which was left un-gilt, and on the recessed areas in the back of the sculpture. |
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