A GILT-LACQUERED COMPOSITE FIGURE OF BUDDHA, MING DYNASTY (1368–1644)

拍品描述

A GILT-LACQUERED COMPOSITE FIGURE OF BUDDHA, MING DYNASTY (1368–1644) Modelled in a composite medium and richly finished in gilt lacquer, this standing figure of the Buddha presents a refined and contemplative presence characteristic of Ming devotional sculpture. The slender body rises in gentle frontal poise, the shoulders relaxed and the torso subtly tapering to a narrow waist above the softly flaring hem of the robe. Traces of gilding shimmer across the surface, intermingling with deep cinnabar-red lacquer that lends warmth and chromatic depth to the figure’s sacred countenance. The face is delicately rounded, with downcast eyes beneath finely arched brows and a faint, meditative smile animating the lips. The hair is arranged beneath a high, foliate crown, suggesting a syncretic iconography in which princely adornment and enlightened being are conjoined. Beaded necklaces and jewelled ornaments are rendered in low relief, their forms once heightened by gilding. The long robe falls in rhythmic, vertical folds, edged with strings of beaded tassels and bordered panels that retain substantial areas of red lacquer beneath the worn gilded surface. The careful layering of lacquer and gilt, now softly abraded through centuries of veneration, creates a richly variegated patina that speaks to both craftsmanship and devotional handling. The right hand is raised before the chest in a gesture of exposition, while the left descends in a complementary mudra, articulating the transmission of the Buddhist teaching. Such gestures would have been immediately legible to the faithful, signifying the Buddha’s role as supreme teacher and compassionate guide. The composite construction, visible at the base and interior, reflects established Ming practices in which wood or other core materials were built up with lacquer layers to achieve both structural integrity and refined surface finish. This technique allowed for nuanced modelling and luminous colour effects suited to temple display. During the Ming dynasty, Buddhist sculpture flourished under imperial patronage and popular devotion alike. Figures such as this were installed in monastery halls, local shrines, and domestic altars, where their gilded surfaces caught the flicker of candlelight and incense smoke. The synthesis of lacquer and gold not only enhanced visual splendour but also conveyed notions of purity, radiance and transcendence central to Buddhist belief. The combination of princely ornament and serene expression reflects the enduring appeal of bodhisattva imagery within Chinese Buddhist practice, where compassion and wisdom are embodied in idealised human form. Graceful in stance and resonant in spiritual presence, this finely preserved Ming gilt-lacquered figure encapsulates the devotional artistry and material sophistication of late imperial Chinese Buddhist sculpture. Height: 25 cm Weight: 360 g Provenance: Property of a Distinguished Hong Kong Collection, formed between the 1980s - 2020's

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