A LARGE BRONZE FIGURE OF SAMANTABHADRA ON AN ELEPHANT MING DYNASTY, 16TH – 17TH CENTURY |

cast seated in lalitasana on a double-lotus base resting on a caparisoned elephant, the Bodhisattva depicted with the left hand held in apanamudra and the right hand raised holding a leaf, dressed in long flowing robes falling into voluminous pleats, further embellished with beaded jewellery, the face with a benevolent expression with downcast eyes and a smile, surmounted by an elaborate five-leaf diadem enclosing smaller Buddhist figures, the elephant finely portrayed with its head gently swayed to one side, its curled trunk flanked by a pair of triple tusks, all supported on a rectangular lotus pedestal, the bronze patinated to an attractive dark reddish-brown tone

Good overall condition, with just typical dents, surface wear and rubbing to the patina, including a small patch above the eyebrows. One of the fingers in the hand holding the leaf has been refixed. A small section of the headdress has been broken off. Some of the lotus petals and other fragile extremities have been bruised.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Samantabhadra is the Bodhisattva associated with the practise of Buddhist teaching and joins Manjushri, the lord of transcendent wisdom, in a trinity with Shakyamuni Buddha. The Bodhisattva is borne by a white elephant, symbolic of the strength achieved through the practise of Buddhism. The bronze is typical of later Ming works, finely cast and of rich colour, and made with elegant reference to antiquity, the heavy and elaborate jewellery and voluminous undulating robes echoing the classical styles of Northern Qi through Song period sculpture. Compare a figure of Samantabhadra seated on a recumbent elephant sold together with a figure of Manjushri on the back of a lion in our New York rooms, 23rd March 2010, lot 80; and another of Samantabhadra seated on an elephant, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 28th November 2006, lot 1610.

There is a long tradition of depicting the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra in bronze. A Song dynasty figure of Samantabhadra in the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated as one of a pair, together with the Bodhisattva Manjusri in Zhongguo meishu quanji. Diaosu bian [The complete collection of Chinese art: Sculptures], vol. 5, 1989, Beijing, pls. 153-154. See also the example from the collection of Sakamoto Goro, sold in these rooms, 5th October 2016, lot 3222, and an earlier Tang dynasty gilt-bronze prototype, previously exhibited at the Kubuso Museum, Japan, 1993, sold in our New York rooms, 20th March 2007, lot 735.

The quality of the figure and definition of the serene facial features is also reminiscent of that on a sixteenth century lacquer-gilt bronze figure of the same size, depicting Simhanada Avalokiteshvara, sold in these rooms, 3rd October 2017, lot 3666.