Lot 462
462
OTHER PROPERTIES
A RARE FAMILLE ROSE STUPA

Details
A RARE FAMILLE ROSE STUPA
JIAQING SEAL MARK IN IRON-RED AND OF THE PERIOD

Constructed in three separate sections: a stupa, tower and cover; the stupa of ovoid form with a ruyi-shaped portal surrounded by a gilt frame revealing the turquoise-glazed interior and the removeable small, gilded figure of Buddha seated in vajrasana on a lotus base, the exterior decorated with three further gilded images of Buddha within circular medallions reserved on a ruby ground decorated with lotus scroll, with decorative stepped borders above and below, raised on a stepped, square pedestal base with notched corners variously decorated with lotus scroll, petal lappet borders and linked lozenges, the ribbed, conical tower painted with lotus sprays on a pale yellow ground, and the stoppered cover with flared sides surmounted by a flame-encased pearl finial, stopper restored, minor losses--19½in. (49.5cm.) high, wood stand, fitted box
Provenance
J.M. Hu Collection

Lot Essay

See Wang-go Wang and Yang Boda, The Palace Museum: Peiking, New York, 1982, pl. 218 for a pagoda in filagree work. The authors note, "As in all Imperial establishments, the only authority higher than that of the emperor was a religious and supernatural one. The Qing royal family practised Lamaist Buddhism, where rituals and settings required the richest paraphenalia, such as the jewelled golden pagoda housing a statue of Buddha." For a different type of pagoda dated to the Jiaqing reign see Sotheby's, London, 9 June 1987, lot 307