5TH/6TH CENTURY, NORTHERN WEI DYNASTY

Details

a rare sandstone fragment of a buddhist stele
5th/6th century, Northern Wei Dynasty
Representing the head and shoulders of Sakyamuni Buddha, carved in high relief against the remaining parts of a mandorla with two shallow-relief figures of Buddha and florettes within a frame of wave like scrolling elements, the head with deeply arching eyebrows, narrow eyes and nose and small pursed lips, the hair with characteristic concentrically coiled strands arranged around the usnisa, nose restored
20 in. (51 cm.) wide

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

In the treatment of the hair curls, the floral halo and swirling relief around the edge of the mandorla, the present example may be compared to the more complete stele in the Honan Provincial Museum, illustrated by Saburo Matsubara in, A History of Chinese Buddhist Sculpture, vol. I, Japan, 1995, pp. 160-161. Although in the same style, the facial features are more pronounced in the present example. Compare also the head illustrated in, Chinese, Korean and Japanese Sculpture in the the Avery Brundage Collection, p. 103, fig. 39, stylistically realted and also demonstrating the typically flat treatment of the ears, clinging closely to the head.

More from CHINESE EXPORT CERAMICS

View All