A FINE LIMESTONE HEAD OF BUDDHA, NORTHERN QI DYNASTYChina, late 6th century. Rendered with a gently smiling expression, the round face carved with well-defined features, heavy-lidded eyes, aquiline nose, bow-shaped lips, and incised, prominent chin, flanked by elongated earlobes, and surmounted by an ushnisha covered in tight whorls. The stone of a creamy beige tone.Provenance: Piasa, Hotel Drouot, Paris, 9 December 2009, lot 369 (according to label). A French private collection, built between ca. 1980 and 2012, acquired from the above. Thence by descent. Two labels to the base, ‘Piasa 20063/6’ and ‘369’.Condition: Very good condition,mensurate with age, signs of weathering and erosion, encrustations, minor losses, small cracks, and minuscule chips.Weight: 3,598 gDimensions: Height 16 cm (excl. stand) and 23.5 cm (incl. stand)Mounted to an associated metal stand. (2)Literatureparison:Compare a related limestone head of Buddha, 39.4 cm high, dated to the Northern Qi dynasty, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 57.176.pare a related limestone head of Buddha, 24.1 cm high, dated to the Northern Qi dynasty, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 2001.422.Auction resultparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: Christie’s Amsterdam, 8 May 2002, lot 569Price: EUR 4,780 or approx.EUR 7,400 adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A Chinese, northern qi dynasty, stone head of buddha Shakyamuni, late 6th centuryExpert remark:pare the related form, facial expression, and hair. Note the size (23 cm).北齊石灰石佛頭中國，六世紀末。細眉長目，雙眉之間有白毫，鼻樑筆挺，表情寧靜慈祥；側面長耳垂，波浪形頭髮整齊地在頭上梳成螺髻。