A wood figure of a Bodhisattva on a cloud. Meiji period - image-1
A wood figure of a Bodhisattva on a cloud. Meiji period - image-2
A wood figure of a Bodhisattva on a cloud. Meiji period - image-1A wood figure of a Bodhisattva on a cloud. Meiji period - image-2

Lot 261 Dα

A wood figure of a Bodhisattva on a cloud. Meiji period

Auction 1249 - overview Cologne
18.06.2024, 11:00 - Asian Art
Estimate: 1.200 € - 1.800 €
Result: 5.796 € (incl. premium)
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A wood figure of a Bodhisattva on a cloud. Meiji period

Standing in a graceful tribhanga pose and with a raised left foot on a cloud, the long scarf placed over both arms, held by the fingers of both hands and reaching down to the cloud base. Painted brownish-black. Mounted on a wooden stand with a branded seal reading Byodo'in in.
Height 76 cm

The present work is a copy of one of the 52 figures on clouds decorating the walls of the Phoenix Hall of the Byodo'in in uji. Variously referred to as “tennin” or “unchu kuyo bosatsu” (bodhisattva on a cloud), they date from the same period as the main image of this hall, the Amida Butsu, which was created in 1053 by the famous sculptor Jocho. The unchu kuyo bosatsu accompany Amida, who descends to earth to escort the souls of the deceased to paradise. They hold musical instruments and flowers in their hands and were formerly painted in bright colours. The original of the present figure hangs on the south wall and is considered one of the most graceful figures of the group. All sculptures were declared National Treasures (kokuho) in 1904.

Provenance

Private collection, The Hague, The Netherlands, sold at Nagel, Stuttgart, 13.11.2004, lot 2213, Private collection, Southern Germany, acquired at the above auction