Lot 53. An important and extremely rare large stone head of a bodhisattva, Northern Qi Dynasty (550-577 AD); 43.5cm (17in) high. (2). Estimate 200 000 € - 300 000 €. photo Christian Baraja.
The serene face with full lidded eyes downcast below high arched brows set with a central urna, with well-defined nose, sensuous bud mouth and set chin, with full rounded cheeks, flanked by the pendulous ears, below the arched centrally-parted black-pigmented hair, surmounted by a tall tri-foliate bejewelled crown, with traces of black, copper-green and azurite pigments, stand.
Provenance: Loo & Cie, Art Ancien de Chine, Paris
Robert Rousset, Paris (1901-1981); acquired from the above on 21 February 1924
Jean-Pierre Rousset, Paris (1936-2021).
The wood stand by Kichizo Inagaki (1876-1951; active in Paris from 1906).
Note: Elegantly proportioned and superbly carved, the present head is a remarkable testament to the high standards achieved in Buddhist portraiture during the Northern Qi period, one of the most vibrant periods in the history of Chinese art. At this time, Buddhism flourished in China, with several shrines being constructed under the emperor's personal auspices and eminent monks were appointed as state preceptors.
Buddhist art experienced a glorious moment following the dissemination of foreign ideas and styles and copious financial resources were devoted to the construction of Buddhist caves whose marvellous sculptures combined powerful and sensuous modelling with subtlety of expression. These features were likely to have derived from the contemporary Indian style of the Gupta period, which was highly regarded by the Qi aristocracy for its exotic traits.
The benevolent expression, conveyed by gently downcast eyes and gentle smile of this majestic head, indicate that it represents Avalokiteshvara, also known as Guanyin, the benevolent Bodhisattva of Mercy. In Buddhist faith, images of deities served as important foci of worship and promoted significant devotional acts, which contributed to the devotee's personal growth towards spiritual liberation.
Venerated in Indian Buddhism as the embodiment of the Compassion of the Buddha, Avalokiteshvara (known as Guanyin in China) is described in the 'Lotus Sutra', as capable of hearing all mankind, striving endlessly to help those offering prayers, transforming at will and appearing in more than thirty human guises to expound Buddhist teaching to devotees.
Compare with a related limestone head of a bodhisattva, Northern Qi dynasty, from the Nelson Atkins Museum, Kansas City (acc.no.F99-1). See also a limestone head of a bodhisattva, Northern Qi dynasty, from the Museum of Art, San Diego, illustrated by K.Tsiang, Echoes of the Past: The Buddhist Cave Temples of Xiangtangshan, Chicago, 2010, p.230, fig.32. See also a related monumental sandstone standing figure of Guanyin, Northern Qi dynasty, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, illustrated by A.F.Howard, et al, Chinese Sculpture, New Haven, 2006, p.288, fig.3.92.
See a smaller white marble head of Mahasthamaprapta, Northern Qi dynasty (34cm high), which was sold at Bonhams London, The Ollivier Collection of Early Chinese Art, 8 November 2018, lot 31.
Bonhams. The Robert and Jean-Pierre Rousset Collection of Asian Art: A Century of Collecting - Part 1. Paris, 25 october 2022.