A RARE AND MASSIVE BRONZE FIGURE OF AVALOKITESHVARA, DATED THIRD YEAR OF JIAJING, CORRESPONDING TO 1524 China. Heavily cast, seated in dhyanasana atop a double lotus base with beaded edges, the hands lowered in dhyana mudra and supporting a lotus flower, wearing loose-fitting robes, the hems finely incised with foliate scroll against a ring-punched ground, and richly adorned with floral jewelry. The serene face with heavy-lidded downcast eyes, arched brows, a broad nose, and full lips forming a calm smile, flanked by long pendulous earlobes. The hair in tight curls surmounted by a domed ushnisha behind the distinct five-leaf crown.

Inscriptions: To reverse, ‘first month of the third year of Jiajing’.

Provenance: Old South German private collection, assembled prior to 2000.
Condition: Very good condition, commensurate with age. Old wear, small nicks and losses, light scratches, casting irregularities. Remnants of gilt and pigment. Fine, naturally grown, dark patina with areas of malachite encrustation.

Weight: 10.7 kg
Dimensions: Height 43 cm

Expert’s note: The Jiajing Emperor was a devoted Daoist disciple who actively suppressed Buddhism during his reign. It is recorded that as early as during the sixth year of his reign (1527), only three years after the present lot was cast (1524), he ordered the closure of both the Western Mountain ordination center in Beijing and the one at Tianning Monastery. The Emperor also clearly favored princes who were devout Daoists, and granted the most fervent followers amongst them gifts and titles. As a result of this official encouragement, bronze figures of Daoist Immortals were more commonly produced during the period, and today survive in greater numbers than their Buddhist counterparts. For this reason, Buddhist statues of a monumental size such as the present lot must be considered exceedingly rare.

Auction result comparison: Compare a related bronze figure of Avalokiteshvara, 40 cm high, dated by inscription to 1444, at Christie’s London in Important Chinese Art on 3 November 2020, lot 106, sold for GBP 212,500. Compare a related lacquered bronze figure of Avalokiteshvara, 26.7 cm high, dated by inscription to 1437, at Christie’s New York in Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art on 21 March 2014, lot 2051, sold for USD 93,750. Compare a related bronze figure of Ksitigarbha, 43.6 cm high, dated by inscription to 1561, at Sotheby’s New York in Important Chinese Art on 20 March 2019, lot 678, sold for USD 100,000.

嘉靖三年（1524年）罕見觀音坐蓮銅像
中國，觀音呈坐姿，結跏趺坐，頂嚴梳髻，上承寶珠，辮髮橫垂兩肩。頭戴五葉冠，雙耳垂戴花輪耳璫。觀音高額寬廣，雙目下視，雙唇輕抿，嘴角微揚，面容莊嚴慈悲。上半身披袒右肩天衣，衣褶流暢自然，褶襬鐫刻纏枝花卉紋，並飾連珠紋。觀音左右手掌心向上，手托蓮花。

款識: 背面可見“嘉靖三年正月二十“

來源：德國南部私人收藏，購於2000年之前。
品相：狀態極好，與年齡相稱。舊磨損、小劃痕和缺損、輕微劃痕、鑄件瑕疵，鎏金和顏料的殘留物。細膩自然的包漿，以及局部帶有孔雀石綠色結殼。

重量：10.7 公斤
尺寸：高43 厘米

專家注釋：嘉靖帝是一位虔誠的道教弟子，在位期間多次鎮壓佛教傳揚。據記載，早在1527年，即此拍品完成之後僅三年（1524年），他就下令關閉北京西山大覺寺和天寧寺。 嘉靖帝也明顯偏愛心向道教的皇子，並賜予他們中最虔誠的追隨者禮物和頭銜。由於官方的鼓勵，道教仙人的銅像在這一時期更為普遍，與佛教造像相比，存世的數量更多。 因此，如本拍品這樣的大型佛教造像極為罕見。

拍賣結果比較: 比較一件相近的1444年觀音銅像，高 40 厘米，見倫敦佳士得Important Chinese Art 2020年11月 3日 lot 106, 售價GBP 212,500。比較一件相近的漆彩觀音銅像，高26.7厘米，1437年，見紐約佳士得Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art 2014年3月21日 lot 2051, 售價USD 93,750；比較一件相近的地藏菩薩銅像，高43.6厘米，1561年, 見紐約蘇富比Important Chinese Art 2019年3月20日 lot 678, 售價USD 100,000。