A CARVED WOOD FIGURE OF A BODHISATTVA

SONG/YUAN DYNASTY

Details

A CARVED WOOD FIGURE OF A BODHISATTVA
Song/Yuan Dynasty
The elegant figure seated in a relaxed attitude atop a rockwork plinth, with right arm gracefully draped over the right knee and the body's weight transferred to the left hand and stiff left arm, wearing beaded chains and necklaces and a dhoti gathered at the knees, the face carved with delicate features and the hair dressed in a topknot behind a foliate diadem
25in. (65.4cm.) high

Provenance

The Arthur M. Sackler Collections, Christie's, New York, 1 December, 1994, lot 171

Lot Essay

The posture of the figure is a variation of lalitasana and maharajalilasana, both positions associated with bodhisattvas, as opposed to the more severe positions, padmasana and virasana, which are associated with the Buddha.

Compare the two stylistically similar wood bodhisattvas illustrated by Hai-wai Yi-zhen, Chinese Art in Overseas Collections, Buddhist Sculpture, Taipei, 1990, pl. 113 in the Denver Art Museum attributed to the Somg dynasty (59.7cm.) and pl. 162 in the British Museum, attributed to the Yuan dynasty and of similar height (68.7cm.).