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Lot Essay
This unusual iconographic pose with both arms raised in a gesture of offering, is extremely rare among Buddhist images of the Qing period. It is highly possible that this predominantly gilt figure is modelled on a Ming dynasty, Xuande period gilt-bronze original. Compare with a slightly smaller (21 cm. high) gilt-bronze kneeling Bodhisattva from the Berti Aschmann Foundation, Museum Reitberg, Zurich, illustrated in On the Path to Enlightenment, 1995, p. 122, no. 72; where the author suggested that the figure with its hands raised in veneration may be placed next to a central Tathagata enthroned on the altar.
A nearly identical figure dated to the Qianlong period is illustrated by I. L. Legeza, A Descriptive and Illustrated Catalogue of the Malcolm MacDonald Collection of Chinese Ceramics, London, 1972, p. 79, no. 384. Three related polychrome figures of seated Sakyamuni, each with varied hand gestures, are illustrated in Monarchy and its Buddhist Way: Tibetan-Buddhist Ritual Implements in the National Palace Museum, Taibei, 1999, no. 23; and a smaller seated Buddha (15.9 cm. high) from the Nanjing Museum, is illustrated in Qing Imperial Porcelain, Hong Kong, 1995, no. 72.
Other examples of ceramic Buddhist images are modelled as Amitayus, the Buddha of Infinite Life, such as three famille rose enamelled seated figures of the same size: one illustrated in Exhibition of Chinese Arts, Messrs C. T. Loo & Co., New York, 1941-1942, no. 750; the second sold in these Rooms, 8 October 1990, lot 533; and the third sold in Hong Kong, 29 October 2001, lot 606. Cf. smaller versions of these Amitayus figures, a pair illustrated in Qingdai Ciqi Shang Jian, Hong Kong, 1994, no. 232 (18 cm. high); and another from the Hellene Terrien Collection, sold in these Rooms, 31 October 2000, lot 924 (15.9 cm.).
Compare also the very similar figure executed in gilt-bronze and champlevé enamel and dated to the Qianlong period in the Victoria and Albert Musuem, illustrated by S. W. Bushell, Chinese Art, London, 1924, vol. II, fig. 94.
A nearly identical figure dated to the Qianlong period is illustrated by I. L. Legeza, A Descriptive and Illustrated Catalogue of the Malcolm MacDonald Collection of Chinese Ceramics, London, 1972, p. 79, no. 384. Three related polychrome figures of seated Sakyamuni, each with varied hand gestures, are illustrated in Monarchy and its Buddhist Way: Tibetan-Buddhist Ritual Implements in the National Palace Museum, Taibei, 1999, no. 23; and a smaller seated Buddha (15.9 cm. high) from the Nanjing Museum, is illustrated in Qing Imperial Porcelain, Hong Kong, 1995, no. 72.
Other examples of ceramic Buddhist images are modelled as Amitayus, the Buddha of Infinite Life, such as three famille rose enamelled seated figures of the same size: one illustrated in Exhibition of Chinese Arts, Messrs C. T. Loo & Co., New York, 1941-1942, no. 750; the second sold in these Rooms, 8 October 1990, lot 533; and the third sold in Hong Kong, 29 October 2001, lot 606. Cf. smaller versions of these Amitayus figures, a pair illustrated in Qingdai Ciqi Shang Jian, Hong Kong, 1994, no. 232 (18 cm. high); and another from the Hellene Terrien Collection, sold in these Rooms, 31 October 2000, lot 924 (15.9 cm.).
Compare also the very similar figure executed in gilt-bronze and champlevé enamel and dated to the Qianlong period in the Victoria and Albert Musuem, illustrated by S. W. Bushell, Chinese Art, London, 1924, vol. II, fig. 94.