11th Century Chinese Polychrome Wood Bodhisattva Sculpture

A rare Chinese polychrome wood sculpture of a Bodhisattva, song…
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A rare Chinese polychrome wood sculpture of a Bodhisattva, Song Dynasty, 11th century, seated in vajrasana (lotus posture) with the head slightly tilted to one side and the eyes downcast, the hair in curls and trusses around the ushnisha, the right hand originally holding a flower, the robe falling across the high lotus pedestal, 47 cm high. Reference: see Osvald siren, Chinese sculpture from the Fifth to the Fourteenth century vol. 11, 1998, pl. 417B for a bronze figure in similar style, also pl. 467C & D for two similar stone heads, also see pl. 404 for a head with very similar hair style, Shanxi Province, also, Hugo Musterburg, sculpture of the Orient, NY 1973, fig. 98, also see complete Treasures of Chinese fine Art, vol. 4, 2006, pl. 56, p. 55 for a very similar example in bronze, date late Tang Dynasty, also Cleveland Bulletin 1987, for a similar dry lacquer figure date late Tang Dynasty. Provenance: A.&J.Speelman Ltd., London, 1999. Published: A.&J. Speelman, Oriental sculpture and works of Art, London 1999, cat. No. 6, pp. 14-15

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  • Bronze - An alloy of copper and tin, traditionally in the proportions of about 9 parts of copper to 1 part of tin.

    The discovery of bronze in Western Asia in the 4th century enabled people to create metal objects which were superior to those previoulsy possible because of its strength and hardness, and it has been used throughout the world for weapons, coins, tools, statuary and other decorative items.

    It is very fluid in a molten state, and its hardness, strength when set, and non-corrosive properties makes it most suitable for casting sculpture.
  • Polychrome - Made or finished in many colours. For furniture, it is used to indicated a painted finish.
  • Song Dynasty - The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China from 960 to 1279 AD. It was divided into two periods, the Northern Song (960?1127) and the Southern Song (1127?1279). The emperor was the ultimate authority, but he relied on officials who were selected based on their merit and skills rather than their family background or social status. The Song Dynasty was a period of great artistic and cultural achievements, particularly in the areas of poetry, painting, and calligraphy. The Chinese invented the printing press during this period, which revolutionized the spread of knowledge and ideas. During the Song Dynasty, China had a prosperous economy and was a centre of international trade, particularly in luxury goods such as silk, tea, and porcelain. The use of paper money became more widespread during this period, facilitating commerce and trade.  

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