A RED SANDALWOOD FIGURE OF DAMO (BODHIDHARMA), QING DYNASTY

Expert’s note
: The present lot belongs to an ascetic group of late Ming to mid-Qing figures which exhibit strong fluid lines and freedom of pose, worked in a variety of materials including several types of hardwood, bronze, ivory, and rhinoceros horn.

China, 1644-1912. Well carved seated cross-legged, shrouded in his loose-fitting monastic robe opening at the chest, his serene bearded face with almond-shaped eyes and thick curled brows. The smoothly polished wood of a distinct reddish-brown color.


Provenance
: English trade

Condition
: Good condition with expected old wear, natural imperfections including age cracks and minor signs of insect activity, small chips and tiny losses, few minor nicks, light scratches. With a fine, naturally grown patina overall.

Weight: 2.151 g
Dimensions: Length 28.5 cm


Bodhidharma
is regarded as the first Chinese patriarch of Chan Buddhism who lived during the fifth/sixth century. Despite the lack of robust biographical information, early Chinese texts such as the Luoyang Qielan Ji, 'Record of the Buddhist Temples of Luoyang', written around 547 by Yang Xuanzhi, recorded Bodhidharma as a monk who traveled from Central Asia to China. Daoxuan described Bodhidharma in Xu Gaoseng Zhuan, the 'Continuation of The Biographies of Eminent Monks', in the mid-seventh century, as a monk from southern India who arrived at the Kingdom of Nanyue during the Song period and then turned north to the Kingdom of Wei. The present lot depicts him seated in a monastic costume, referencing a legend that he spent nine years meditating in a cave to attain enlightenment.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s London, 5 November 2013, lot 106
Price: GBP 2,125 or approx.
EUR 3,700
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A boxwood carving of Damo, 18th/19th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject as well as the related manner of carving and modeling with similar expression and garment folds. Note the size (12 cm).


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Galerie Zacke, Vienna, 29 June 2022, lot 96
Price: EUR 3,286 or approx.
EUR 3,600
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A large hardwood figure of Damo (Bodhidharma), late Ming to early Qing dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject as well as the related manner of carving and modeling with similar expression and garment folds. Note the size (44.5 cm).




清代紅檀香達摩坐像

中國，1644-1912年。達摩祖師盤膝而坐，身披寬鬆的袈裟，長著鬍鬚的面容安詳，杏眼濃眉。木料表面光滑，具有獨特的紅棕色。


來源：
英國古玩交易。

品相：
狀況良好，有磨損、自然缺陷，包括老化裂紋和蟲咬輕微跡象、小缺口、輕微劃痕。整體細膩包漿。

重量：2.151 克
尺寸：長 28.5 厘米


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：倫敦佳士得，2013年11月5日，lot 106
價格：GBP 2,125（相當於今日
EUR 3,700
）
描述：十八至十九世紀木雕達摩像
專家評論：比較非常相近的主題、相近的雕刻風格、相似的表情和衣服皺摺。請注意尺寸 (12 厘米)。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：Galerie Zacke，維也納，29 6月 2022年，lot 96
價格：EUR 3,286（相當於今日
EUR 3,600
）
描述：明末清初木雕達摩像
專家評論：比較非常相近的主題、相近的雕刻風格，以及相似的表情和衣服皺摺。請注意尺寸 (44.5 厘米)。