Gray stone, China. northern dynasty (420– 479)

Particularly distinctive about this head are the vey finely formed facial features. The expression is quiet and wise, but also happily smiling, and both the very curved eyebrows as well as the prominently vertical shape of the head (ushnisha or, in Chinese, rouji) emphasize that certain spiritual element. Large, rounded chin; fine, amused mouth; the nose of the bridge straight. The latter, along with an earlobe, has been restored. Due to its having been stored underground there are some encrustations which have been in part removed. Between the numerous, small and rather angularly polished locks of hair are some spots with green patina indicating that it was stored close to bronze. In general, a good and impressive condition. Remote traces of the preceding Gandhara style can be seen in the profile. Elegantly mounted on a metal base. For comparison, a very similar piece has been published in “Buddhist Stone Carvings in the Northern Dynasties – The Splendour of Buddhist Statuaries”, National Museum of History, Tapei, Taiwan. Another piece has been published in “Buddhist Imagery Art at Longxing Temple of Qingzhou, Zhao Pu-Chu”. The Chinese Institute of Buddhist Culture.

HEIGHT (HEAD) 26 CM; WITH BASE 38.7 CM

Like cat. no. 6, this Buddha’s head was part of the same, old collection of a French noble house since at least 1967. The origins of this collection can be traced back to Évariste Regis Huc (1813 – 1860), a French missionary and discoverer who became widely famous for his travels through Mongolia, Tibet and China. Reaching Lhasa in 1846, he was probably also the first European to do so. Huc laid the foundations for this collection, which was systematically inventoried and documented in 1967, although without more exact information about when each of the objects was acquired.

灰石造佛尊頭像。中國，唐代早期，高26厘米。

Expertise: Wolfmar Zacken