CHINE, DYNASTIE QING, XVIIIÈME-XIXÈME SIÈCLE

Buddhism flourished during the Qing dynasty, and was encouraged by the devotion of the Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong emperors and their successors. As a result of its popularity, the production of Buddhist statuary, ritual objects, vessels and other implements became widespread, and a variety of materials were employed in their manufacture. Several examples of jade buddhas produced around this period are known.
A small jade Amitayus (7.7 cm. high), is illustrated in Monarchy and Its Buddhist Way, Tibetan-Buddhist Ritual Implements in the National Palace Museum, National Palace Museum, Taiwan, 1999, no. 29. See a smaller (13.6 cm.) white jade seated Buddha dated to the mid-Qing dynasty, in the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated by Yang Boda in Chinese Jades Throughout the Ages, Hong Kong, 1997, no. 103. A slightly larger (21 cm.) seated white jade figure of Pindola, formerly in the Nott Collection, is illustrated in Chinese Jades in the Stanley Charles Nott Collection, West Palm Beach, 1942, pl. XII, where it is dated to the Jiaqing period. A larger white jade Buddha (23.5 cm.) from the Stephen Junkunc III collection, with very similar features to the present example, was sold at Christie's New York, 26 March 2010, lot 1104.