€85,000
A fine Chinese gilt-lacquered bronze sculpture of Buddha Amitayus, Yongle 大明永樂年施 mark and of the period
H.: 19,2 cm
The present figure belongs to a very rare group of smaller sized Buddhist sculptures from the Yongle period that are finely and skilfully cast.
A small section, where the gilt lacquer on the upper edge of the lotus throne is removed, reveals a part of its inscription: 'Da Ming Yongle nian shi' (大明永樂年施).
Ref.:
- Ulrich von Schroeder,Indo-Tibetan Bronzes, Hong Kong, 1981, where the author states: 'fifty-four Da Ming Yongle nian zhi works have been documented in Tibetan monastery collections, most of which are held in Potala Palace. These works have survived in Tibet due to imperial patronage lavished on Tibetan hierarchs and monasteries during the reign of the Yongle Emperor. The slim elongated lotus petals on the base of this piece are only seen on smaller Yongle works which average eighteen to twenty-two centimeters in height. Thus this group of figures are characterized by their delicate appearance, emphasized by the intimate size and exquisitely finished details.
- The Hermitage Museum, St-Petersburg, inventory number y-656, for a closely related example. (link)
- The British Museum, London, museum number 1908,0420.4, for a larger example on a later (Qing) base, also with the inscribed 6-character Yongle mark. (link)
Condition reports can be requested by e-mail ([email protected]). They will be made available on our website (www.rm-auctions.com). You will also find high resolution images and additional images on our website. A full list of available condition reports is online here: https://www.rm-auctions.com/en/condition-report/74
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