BUST OF A BODHISATTVA.
China. Eastern Wei dynasty. 6th c.
Dense; light grey limestone. Height 29 cm; width 15;5cm; depth 8;5cm.

The Bodhisattva is compassionately leaning forward towards the viewer. Carved from a dense; light grey limestone; the sculpture wears a four-lobed petal-shaped crown on his beautifully coiffed hair. The Bodisattva is dressed in a thick; pleaded robe over a thinner under garment; and adorned with long and heavy beaded necklace. His face has a fine; serene expression.

This sublime and masterfully carved bust of a Boddhisattva can stylistically be associated with the important archaeological discovery in 1996 of a large group of Buddhist stone sculptures in Qingzhou; Shandong province. "The find was at the site of the ancient Longxing Temple; where some four hundred Buddhist images in stone were found smashed and buried in a large pit. (...)"

What is striking about the Qingzhou sculptures; in addition to their artistic qualities; is both their stylistic affinity to Gupta period (ca. 300 - ca. 500) prototypes; and the beginning of entirely independent styles. This beautifully carved torso of a Bodhisattva is a superb example for the development of a new style commenced in the Eastern Wei dynasty which lasted only for a brief period from 534 to 550 AD.

The Liangshu (history of the Liang); compiled in the decades immediately following the fall of the Northern Qi dynasty in 577; includes a description of Middle Tianzhu (Gupta India) and a record of a trade mission from the Indian state in the early sixth century" (James C.Y.Watt; Art and History in China from the Third to the Eighth Century; in: James C.Y.Watt; China - Dawn of a Golden Age; 200-750 AD; New York 2004; p.34).

Provenance:
-Private Collection Germany (since 1970s).
-Art Loss Register Certificate ref. S00092562.

Compare:
-A stylistically similar; complete Bodhisattva is in the Mus閑 Guimet; Paris.Art trade; Van Ham.