A TANG DYNASTY STONE FIGURE OF A STANDING BODHISATTVA

PROPERTY FROM AN AMERICAN PRIVATE COLLECTION

Details

A TANG DYNASTY STONE FIGURE OF A STANDING BODHISATTVA
CIRCA 700, LONGMEN CAVES

Standing in a tribhanga position with the body gently swayed to the left atop a circular lotus pod pedestal, the right arm raised and left arm hanging at the side, wearing layered robes falling in rounded folds secured at the waist, a long beaded necklace encircling the neck and crossing the front of the body in a knot at the midriff, the hair swept up in a graceful topknot adorned in front with a stupa, the eyes half-closed in a contemplative expression, with traces of green pigment on the base
28in. (71cm.) high, stand

Provenance

Stephen Junkunc III

Lot Essay

Refer to the larger figure (130cm.) from the Longmen Caves, with more elaborate jewelery, holding a flask in one hand and a scarf in the other, now in a private Japanese collection, with close stylistic resemblance to the present figure, and dated to the Tang dynasty, illustrated by Longmen Caves Research Institute, (ed.) Longmen Liusan Diaoxiang Ji (The Lost Statues of the Longmen Caves), Shanghai, 1993, p. 71, no. 78. Compare, also, the smaller (46cm.), more simply attired figure, illustrated in the same publication, p. 68, no. 75. See, also, the larger figure of Avalokitesvara showing similar treatment of the folds, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, October 30, 1994, lot 385; and the two larger Longmen stone figures of bodhisattvas from the same collection, sold in these rooms, September 21, 1995, lots 301 and 302