A SILVER FIGURE OF AVALOKITESHVARA IN ROYAL EASE, FIRST HALF OF THE QING DYNASTY
China, late 17th - 18th century. Seated in royal ease, the Bodhisattva of Infinite Compassion, is raising his right hand in kamajayi mudra and supporting himself on the separately cast rockwork base above crashing waves with his left. Robed in a finely cast voluminous dhoti with a beaded hem and a cloth belt tied at the waist. His serene face with sinuously lidded downcast eyes below gently arched brows, the mouth with bow-shaped lips, flanked by long pendulous earlobes. The hair piled up into a jatamakuta adorned with floral blossoms and elegantly falling in twisted strands down his shoulders. (2)


Provenance:
UK trade.

Condition:
Excellent condition with expected old wear and minor casting flaws, a few small nicks, and minimal tarnishing to the silver. Possibly once with inlays that are now lost.

Weight: 762.3 g
Dimensions: Height 13.1 cm


The present figure
is hollow-cast in two parts, statue and base, and is made entirely from silver of a high purity, showing fine and detailed incision work. It shares the physical proportions, sensuous plasticity, and exquisite modeling that normally characterizes sculptures from ancient India, which certainly served as an inspiration. The excellent polish of the surface shows the hand of a highly experienced silversmith, indicating a possible connection to the Imperial workshops in Beijing.


The Kamajayi Mudra
involves pressing the thumb against the index finger of the same hand while allowing the other fingers to remain in a relaxed and slightly curled position. This mudra serves to control desires and cravings and it promotes the awakening of spiritual energy. It is seldomly found on Buddhist statues of the period, and may have been depicted here for a specific reason, possibly in connection with the original recipient of this figure.


Literature comparison:

Compare a Tibetan silver figure of Vajradhara, 16.5 cm high, dated to the 15th century, in the Art Institute of Chicago, reference number 2014.1031. Compare a Nepalese silver figure of Tara, dated c. 1900, in the Powerhouse Collection of the Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, Sydney, object number 2014/132/25.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 2 October 2018, lot 78
Estimate: HKD 700,000 or approx.
EUR 89,500
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A silver figure of Marici, Qianlong period
Expert remark: Compare the related Buddhist subject, silver casting, incision work and modeling. Note the size (18.5 cm).


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 1 December 2016, lot 559
Estimate: HKD 90,000 or approx.
EUR 12,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A silver figure of a female attendant
Expert remark: Compare the related silver hollow-casting and detailed modeling. Note that this statue is from the Carl Kempe collection and also dates from the earlier part of the Qing dynasty.




清朝上半葉觀音自在姿銀橡

中國，十七世紀末至十八世紀。觀音菩薩自在坐，舉起右手，左手支撐在岩石上，身著精美長袍，下擺飾有串珠瓔珞。面容平靜安詳，雙眸低垂，長耳垂。頭髮束成高髻，優雅地盤繞在肩上。(2)


來源：
英國古玩交易。

品相：
狀況良好，有磨損和輕微的鑄造缺陷，一些小刻痕，小污漬使銀失去光澤。可能曾經有鑲嵌物，但現已丟失。

重量：762.3 克
尺寸：高 13.1 厘米


本尊為空心鑄造
，分為雕像和底座兩部分，全部由高純度的白銀製成，切口精細。 它具有印度雕塑比例、精緻的造型。 表面的拋光顯示了製作精良，表明可能與北京的皇家作坊有關。


文獻比較：


比較一件的十五世紀西藏觀音銀像，高16.5 釐米，收藏於芝加哥藝術博物館，館藏編號2014.1031。比較一件約1900年尼泊爾度母銀像，收藏於雪梨應用藝術與科學博物館的動力博物館，館藏編號 2014/132/25。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：香港邦瀚斯，2018年10月2日，lot 78
估價：HKD 700,000（相當於今日
EUR 89,500
）
描述：乾隆時期銀質積光佛母像
專家評論：比較相近的佛陀主題、銀鑄造、雕刻和模型 。請注意尺寸 (18.5 釐米)。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比，2016年12月1日，lot 559
估價：HKD 90,000（相當於今日
EUR 12,000
）
描述：銀製女像
專家評論：比較相近的銀製空心鑄造和細節。請注意此像來自Carl Kempe收藏，以及亦為清代前期。