Lot 5051
- 5051
A RARE GILT-INSCRIBED AND LACQUERED ZITAN FIGURE OF AMITABHA BUDDHA TIBET, 17TH CENTURY |
Estimate
40,000 - 60,000 HKD
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Description
- 28.4 cm, 11 1/8 in.
carved seated in the form of Amitabha seated in vajraparyankasana on a beaded-edged lotus base with the hands held in dhyanamudra at the lap probably to hold the kalasha, rendered clothed in garment draped over the left shoulder and revealing the chest, further detailed in gilding with floral motifs, the solemn expression of the deity framed by a pair of pendulous earlobes and a domed ushnisha, traces of pigment, the upper edge of the lotus base with a Tibetan inscription translating as 'First on the right: Homage to the majestic Lord of the Tathāgata lineage, Amitābha'
Condition
There are some age gaps between different original sections of the zitan as visible in the catalogue photo. There are minor bruises and chips especially at the tip of lotus. The implement missing. The base unsealed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
This superbly carved zitan figure depicts Amitabha, the Buddha of Eternal Light. The intricate inscription in gilt above the lotus base can be translated as: 'First on the right: Homage to the majestic Lord of the Tathagata lineage, Amitabha'.
The Tibetan noun phrase in the inscription clearly indicates that the sculpture would originally have been part of a set of sculptures, possibly the five Buddha families.
For another Tibetan zitan figure with similar gilt-lacquer floral decoration on the robes, see the figure of the monk in the John and Berthe Ford collection, illustrated in Pratapaditya Pal, Desire and Devotion: Art from India, Nepal and Tibet in The John and Berthe Ford Collection, Baltimore, 2001, p. 298, pl. 174.
The Tibetan noun phrase in the inscription clearly indicates that the sculpture would originally have been part of a set of sculptures, possibly the five Buddha families.
For another Tibetan zitan figure with similar gilt-lacquer floral decoration on the robes, see the figure of the monk in the John and Berthe Ford collection, illustrated in Pratapaditya Pal, Desire and Devotion: Art from India, Nepal and Tibet in The John and Berthe Ford Collection, Baltimore, 2001, p. 298, pl. 174.