- 368
明 銅大日如來佛坐像
描述
- Bronze
Condition
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
拍品資料及來源
This concept is represented by the uttrabodhimudra displayed by the present figure. This gesture represents supreme enlightenment and together with the vajramudra and dharmachakramudra is one that is specifically associated with Vairocana.
The Five Dhyani Buddha crown on the present figure also points to this figure being a representation of Vairocana as one of the five, the other four being Aksobhya, Ratnasambhava, Amitabha and Amoghasiddhi. When depicted together, Vairocana is often placed in the center.
Smaller Ming dynasty gilt-bronze figures of Vairocana have sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 25th April 2004, lot 333, and 8th April 2011, lot 3048. Two other related figures were sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 1st June 2011, lot 3770, and Christie's New York, 15th September 2011, lot 1383. A massive 16th / 17th century figure of Vairocana, acquired in North China in 1920 is currently in the collection of the Royal Ontario Museum (no. 921.31.30).
The present figure of Vairocana is one of the larger ones still extant. Timothy Brook, The Confusions of Pleasure: Commerce and Culture in Ming China, University of California Press, 1999, pp. 155-156, notes that during the Ming dynasty bronze Buddha statues were often seized by the authorities and melted down for weapons and coinage.