CHINA - Lot 75

CHINA 17th CENTURY Lacquered wood statue of Buddha seated in padmasana, hands resting on legs in dhyana mudra. He is dressed in a monastic robe covering both shoulders and falling in elegant folds. The naked torso is adorned with a senestrogyr swastika. The face is full, with a serene expression, the hair styled in delicate swirling curls and with the ushnisha at the front. He is accompanied by five small attendants (offering bearers, luohan and bodhisattva) in gilded lacquered wood. H. 24 cm Provenance : - Collected in China by Baron Albert d'Anthoüard de Wasservas (1861-1944), diplomat, embassy secretary in Peking in 1898. - By posterity to this day. Notice: NOTE This gilded lacquered wood Buddha illustrates the virtuosity of Chinese sculpture during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Created with remarkable care, it demonstrates a subtle balance between decorative refinement and profound spirituality. Shakyamuni Buddha is depicted in a meditative posture, wrapped in an ample mantle (sanghati) whose folds unfold with suppleness, forming delicate curls that fall over the shoulders. The draping of the garment contrasts with the stylization and roundness of the face and barrel. The use of gilded lacquer on wood flourished during the Ming dynasty, when it was widely employed in the production of religious effigies. Its use continued into the early years of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Our piece is to be compared with a statue in a similar style, from the Cheng Huan collection of Buddhist Art, dispersed at the "Fine Chinese Art" sale, Bonhams, London on May 14, 2015 (lot 51).