AN EXCEPTIONAL LIMESTONE HEAD OF BUDDHA, NORTHERN QI DYNASTY China, 550-577. Finely carved with almost perfectly symmetrical features imparting the head with a serene vitality, the eyebrows rising in smooth curves issuing from the bridge of the nose, the deeply-set large eyes half-closed under heavy lids sweeping in bowstring curves, the crisp undulating lips forming a subtle smile, all flanked by large ears with deeply cut lobing, beneath stylized hair depicted as undulating and overlapping waves rising rhythmically up to the smoothly domed ushnisha and centered with two whorls.

Provenance: Dr. Robert Bigler, Zurich, Switzerland, 22 May 1997. A Swiss private collection, acquired from the above. A copy of the original signed invoice from Dr. Robert Bigler, dated 22 May 1997, stating a purchase price of CHF 45,000 or approx. EUR 65,300 (converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing), accompanies this lot. Dr. Robert Bigler mentions in the document above that the head was examined by “Dr. Brand” [sic] of the Linden-Museum Stuttgart, referring to Dr. Klaus-Joachim Brandt, who was the museum's curator for East Asian art at the time.
Condition: Excellent condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, some weathering, losses, minor signs of erosion, nicks, scratches, encrustations.

Weight: 9,667 g (excl. stand)
Dimensions: Height 26.5 cm (excl. stand) and 29.8 cm

Literature comparison:
Compare a related limestone head of a bodhisattva, also dated to the Northern Qi dynasty, exhibited by Gisèle Croës at Asia Week New York 2014.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby's New York, 22 September 2005, lot 21
Price: USD 18,000 or approx. EUR 27,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A finely carved limestone small head of Buddha, China, late Northern Qi dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the closely related carving with similar stylized hair centered by two whorls and large ears with deeply cut lobing. Note the smaller size (18.2 cm).
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie's New York, 22 March 2013, lot 1259
Price: USD 50,000 or approx. EUR 62,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A limestone head of a bodhisattva, Northern Qi dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the closely related stone and manner of carving with similar head form and symmetrical features. Note the larger size (33.5 cm).



北齊石灰石佛陀頭像
中國，550-577年。五官幾乎完美對稱，表情顯得更加寧靜慈祥。細眉長目，鼻樑筆挺，側面長耳垂，波浪形頭髮整齊地在頭上梳成螺髻。

來源：蘇黎世Dr. Robert Bigler收藏，購於1997年5月22日；一個瑞士私人收藏購於上述收藏。隨附由Dr. Robert Bigler簽名的原始發票的副本，時間爲1997年5月22日，售價為 CHF 45,000（相當於今日EUR 65,300）。Dr. Robert Bigler 在這份文件中提到這件佛頭曾被斯圖加特林登美術館東亞藝術部策展人Dr. Klaus-Joachim Brandt 的檢查。
品相：狀況極好，與年代相符。大面積磨損、一些風化、缺損、輕微的侵蝕跡象、刻痕、劃痕、結殼。

重量：不含底座9,667 克
尺寸：高26.5 厘米 (不含底座) ，總高 29.8 厘米

文獻比較：
比較一件相近的北齊石灰石菩薩像，於2014年紐約亞洲藝術週由 Gisèle Croës展出。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約蘇富比，2005年9月22日，lot 21
價格：USD 18,000（相當於今日EUR 27,000）
描述：北齊末年石灰石佛陀頭像
專家評論：比較非常相近的髮型雕刻，以兩個螺髻為中心，以及兩側垂耳上深深的切口。請注意尺寸較小 (18.2 厘米).

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2013年3月22日，lot 1259
價格：USD 50,000（相當於今日EUR 62,500）
描述：北齊石灰石菩薩頭像
專家評論：比較非常相近的石質、頭形的雕刻風格，以及五官對稱的特徵。請注意尺寸較大 (33.5 厘米)。