A CARVED WOOD FIGURE OF A BODHISATTVA, HEIAN PERIOD

拍品描述

A CARVED WOOD FIGURE OF A BODHISATTVA, HEIAN PERIOD Japan, 11th-12th century, Heian period (794-1185) Finely carved from a single block of wood in the ichiboku-zukuri technique, standing in a graceful pose, dressed in long flowing robes cascading in voluminous folds, the chest adorned with a metal necklace suspending pendants, the serene face with heavy-lidded downcast eyes, elegantly arched brows centered by a circular urna, and slender lips forming a subtle smile, the hair arranged in a high chignon behind a pierced metal tiara. HEIGHT 30.5 cm (the figure), 34.5 cm (incl. stand) Mounted on an associated wood stand. The conception of the sculpture, carved in one block in the ichiboku-zukuri technique, could point towards an earlier Heian period dating, wood sculptures of the latter Heian and succeeding Kamakura period being usually conceived from hollowed out segments, carved separately and subsequently re-assembled together (yosegi and warihagi zukuri). This would also explain the loss of the arms which had probably been carved separately from different blocks and affixed to the torso. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related wood figure of Sho Kannon, dated Heian period, 11th-12th century, 38.2 cm high, at Koller, 2 June 2021, Zurich, lot 298 (sold for CHF 7,500 or approx. EUR 9,800 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).

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