A SMALL EARLY GLASS FIGURE OF BUDDHA

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A SMALL EARLY GLASS FIGURE OF BUDDHA
TANG DYNASTY

The molded glass figure shown standing on a lotus pedestal holding an amphora pendent from the left hand, the green glass barely visible through an opaque buff outer rind, repaired; together with a clear glass cicada, chips; and a translucent gray-green jade slender handle, Late Shang/Early Western Zhou Dynasty, of cylindrical form with slightly faceted sides, one end carved with a ridge below two pairs of bowstring bands, the stone now partially calcified to an opaque buff color--Buddha 2¼in. (5.7cm.) high, wood stand; cicada 1 5/8in. (4.1cm.) long, wood stand; jade handle 5 5/8in. (14.2cm.) long (3)

Lot Essay

Compare a similar glass Buddha in the British Museum, illustrated with other Tang glass objects by S. Jenyns, Chinese Art III, New York, 1982, p. 72. A similar clear glass cicada dated 8-12th century A.D. was included in a study by R.H. Brill, S.C. Tong and D. Dohrenwend, "Chemical Analyses of Some Early Chinese Glass", Scientific Research in Early Chinese Glass, Corning Museum of Glass, New York, 1991, p.35, fig.9, no.5805