A LARGE AND IMPORTANT LACQUER-GILT WOOD FIGURE OF BUDDHA, 17TH-18TH CENTURY Expert's note: The present lot boasts a superbly preserved lacquer coating that is more than 250 years old, and hence shows a beautiful, naturally-grown patina. Furthermore, it is of relatively large size and overall in very good condition, making it an extremely rare example of Buddhist gilt-lacquer sculpture from the 17^th to 18^th century.

China. Well carved, the standing Buddha with elongated earlobes and a benevolent face beneath a prominent ushnisha formed with coiled curls reserved with an urna, wearing a thick overlapping draped robe opening to the bare chest and falling to the feet with folds distinctively detailed with coils and scrolls, all covered in a rich lacquer gilt. The back with an oval aperture.

Provenance: English trade.
Condition: Very good condition with old wear, expected minor age cracks, losses and nicks, minor old repair to fingers of proper left hand. Remnants of pigment. Fine, dark patina. A large wood figure of such high age and well-preserved condition, particularly to the lacquer gilding, must be considered extremely rare.

Weight: 2,310 g
Dimensions: Height 43.8 cm

Coating carved wood figures with gilt-lacquer is a technique that appears to have emerged during the early part of the Ming dynasty, continuing on to the Qing dynasty and echoing Buddhist bronze figures in form and decoration.

Literature comparison:
Compare a related larger gilt-lacquered wood figure of Buddha, also dated 17^th-18^th century, 76.8 cm high, exhibiting the same kind of gilt found on the present lot, at Christie's New York, 23 March 2018, lot 1041. Note that the size of the Buddha statue without the throne is similar to the present lot.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Bonhams London, 16 May 2019, lot 169
Price: GBP 312,562 or approx. EUR 377,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Rare Set of Three Gilt-Lacquered Wood Figures of the Buddha, 17^th-18^th Century
Expert remark: Compare the lacquer gilding, the patina, the carving technique and style, as well as the related size (55 cm). Note that the lot comprises 3 statues.



十七至十八世紀大型重要木雕漆金佛陀立像
中國。佛陀立像雕刻精美，螺髮刻畫清晰，且前額飾髻珠，面容圓潤飽滿，神態沉靜而優雅。敞胸披袈裟。左手於胸前結禪定印，右手自然下垂結與願印，儀態端莊肅穆。此造像工藝考究，袈裟衣褶的處理尤為精彩，如行雲流水一般。

專家注釋：本拍品金漆保存完好，已有 250 多年的歷史，包漿美麗自然。此外，漆金飽滿，品相一流，加之體量碩大，極爲難得的木雕造像精品。

來源：英國古玩交易市場。
品相：品相極好，有磨損，輕微的年齡裂縫，缺損和劃痕，右手手指的有輕微修復。色彩殘留。深色包漿。如此年代久遠且保存完好的大型木質造像，尤其是鎏金，極為罕見。

重量：2,310 克
尺寸：高 43.8 厘米

漆金木雕造像是明初出現的一種工藝，一直延續到清代，在造型和裝飾上與佛教青銅造像相呼應。

文獻比較：
比較一件相近的十七至十八世紀木雕漆金佛陀像，高76.8 厘米，展示了與本拍品上相同的鎏金，見紐約佳士得，2018年3月23日，lot 1041。請注意此佛像去除底座後尺寸與本拍品相似。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：倫敦邦瀚斯，2019年5月16日，lot 169
價格：GBP 312,562（相當於今日EUR 377,500）
描述：十七至十八世紀木漆金佛像一組三件
專家評論：比較金漆、包漿、雕刻技術，以及相近的尺寸 (55 厘米)。請注意此佛像為三件一組。