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COLLECTION OF EINAR JOLIN (1890-1976) Born in 1890, the Swedish painter Einar Jolin was well known for his highly decorative portraits, landscapes and still lifes characterised by the use of bright and clean colours and a naïve Expressionist style. Although strongly inspired by Matisse, the Oriental art that he discovered at Musée Guimet in Paris was even more influential to his artistic style. Soon enough the Chinese and Japanese art works from his personal collection became the essential props of his interior paintings during his long career as a painter. The current bronze figure of Guanyin is gracefully presented next to a archaic gu vase and a pebble bowl in an oil canvas by the artist dated 1951.

STATUE DE GUANYIN EN BRONZE

CHINE, DYNASTIE SONG, CIRCA XIIIEME SIECLE

Details

STATUE DE GUANYIN EN BRONZE
CHINE, DYNASTIE SONG, CIRCA XIIIEME SIECLE
Elle est assis en rajalilasana, la main droite est élégamment posée sur le genou droit plié, la gauche reposant sur son socle d'origine. Elle est vêtue d'un dhoti souple, une écharpe posée sur ses épaules laissant son torse dénudé paré de bijoux. Son visage aux yeux mi-clos est empreint de sérénité et surmonté d'un haut chignon portant une effigie de bouddha.
Hauteur: 14,5 cm. (5 ¼ in.), socle en bois

Provenance

Previously in the collection of Einar Jolin (1890-1976), acquired prior to 1951, thence by descent to the previous owner.

Further details

A BRONZE FIGURE OF A SEATED GUANYIN
CHINA, SONG DYNASTY, CIRCA 13TH CENTURY

Brought to you by

Tiphaine Nicoul

tnicoul@christies.com + 33 1 40 76 83 75

Lot Essay

One of the common depictions of this bodhisattva is the so-called 'Water-Moon Guanyin,' or 'Avalokitesvara of the Southern Seas,' which shows the figure seated in rajalilasana, or 'Royal Ease'.
See a closely-related Song dynasty bronze Guanyin with its stand in the collection of the Freer Gallery of Art Washington D.C (inventory no. F1917.17a-b), illustrated in H. Munsterberg, Chinese Buddhist Bronzes, Vermont and Japan, 1967, pl.69.
Compare to a similar gilt-lacquer bronze figure of Guanyin of slightly a larger size (15.8 cm.), also dated 13th century, sold in Sotheby's Paris, 11 June 2019, lot 21 ; and another one sold in Christie's London, 10th December 1990, lot 38.

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