A LARGE GREEN-GLAZED POTTERY STUPA-FORM RELIQUARY

細節

A LARGE GREEN-GLAZED POTTERY STUPA-FORM RELIQUARY
LIAO/JIN DYNASTY

Comprising three sections: the base modeled with a tapering column encircled by a balustrade applied with six lions seated on the rim, raised on a tall, spreading foot pierced with ruyi heads and surmounted by a lotus blossom surrounding a central aperture into which the middle section fits, this structure molded and incised with six pairs of doors flanked by trellis panels and separated by vertical members positioned below each of the dragon-head roof tiles projecting from the flanged rim of the sloping roof surrounding a further aperture into which the topmost section fits, formed as a ribbed ovoid set between tile roofs and surmounted by a 'pearl' nestled within a lotus blossom, the green glaze partially altered to a silvery iridescence (minor restoration)
37in. (84cm.) high

拍品專文

A larger sancai-glazed hexagonal pagoda of Jin dynasty date, excavated in 1976 in Bilinyuan, Lingshou county, is illustrated in Hebeisheng Chutu Wenwu Yuanji (Cultural Relics Excavated from Hebei Province), pl. 73

This stupa resembles its Indian prototype, with its multi-tiered construction, lotus pedestal, and tapering top supporting a 'jewel'. See, for example, an Indian Kasmiri-style bronze votive stupa, circa 5th-6th century, illustrated by Robert E. Fisher, 'Noble Guardians, The Emergence of Lokapalas in Buddhist Art', Oriental Art, 1995, vol. XLI, no. 2, pp. 17-24, fig. 9

The result of Oxford thermoluminescence test no. 566p60 is consistent with the dating of this lot