大明宣德年製 Xuande Emperor Period (1426-1435), finely cast gilt bronze Sino-Tibetan, Vajrasattva 大明宣德年施. Certified. Finely cast, gilt bronze Sino-Tibetan figure of Vajrasattva in dhyanasana pose, on a double lotus base. Vajrasattva holds a Ghana in the left hand, symbolizing compassion and wisdom, wearing a long flowing dhoti tied at waist, an elaborate necklace across the bare chest, armbands and bracelets. Several dozen gemstones are encrusted in his crown, necklace and earrings. Height: 10 inches = 25.2 cm; Size of the base: 6.25” x 4.5” = 16 cm x 11.8 cm; Weight: 3 kg 667 g = 8 lb. 1.3 oz.; The formulaic, six-character 大明宣德年施 inscription reading Da Ming Xuande nian shi, which is engraved at the center of the base’s flat top and which may be translated “Bestowed [during the] Xuande era [of the] Great Ming”, dates this sculpture to the Xuande reign (1436-1435) of the Ming dynasty, a period of great artistic refinement in China. Engraved after casting, inscriptions on such Tibeto-Chinese-style bronzes typically read from left to right, as seen here and end with the verb shi 施, in this context meaning “bestow”, rather than with the verb zhi 製, meaning “made”, which is typically seen in the imperial marks of porcelains of the same period. Condition: antique, but no defects. The base is covered by reddish copper plate with engraved lotus design. Copper has some green patina. Provenance: Estate sale in 2015 in New South Wales, Australia, then private collection in Alabama, USA, and then consignment to Eternity Gallery in 2024; Results from other auctions: https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6167688 Christie’s live auction 15488, on 6 November, 2018. A RARE AND FINELY-CAST GILT-BRONZE SEATED FIGURE OF AVALOKITESHVARA, XUANDE SIX-CHARACTER INCISED MARK AND OF THE PERIOD (1426-1435); Price realized: GBP 1,928,750; Estimate: GBP 150,000 – GBP 200,000; Closed: 6 Nov 2018; https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6427773 Christie’s live auction 21656. Estimate from: HKD 4,000,000 = 515,035.80 United States Dollar; To: HKD 7,000,000 = 901,312.65 United States Dollar; A RARE AND FINELY CAST GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF VAJRASATTVA XUANDE INCISED SIX-CHARACTER PRESENTATION MARK AND OF THE PERIOD (1403-1425); The figure is seated majestically in dhyanasana on a double-lotus base, holding a vajra held in the right hand and a ghana in the left, wearing a long flowing dhoti tied at waist, an elaborate necklace across the bare chest, armbands and bracelets. The rounded face is finely cast with a compassionate expression, flanked by pendulous ears wearing floral medallion earrings, under ‘an eight-leaf diadem’. The lotus base is incised with the six-character reign mark, Da Ming Xuande nian shi, ‘Bestowed in the Great Ming Xuande period’. 10 in. (26.5 cm.) high https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2024/dharma-tantra/a-gilt-bronze-figure-of-vajrasattva-mark-and Sotheby’s, Sept 17, Lot 308, A gilt-bronze figure of Vajrasattva, Mark and period of Yongle Estimate: 400,000 - 600,000 USD Description: the top of the base incised with a horizontal six-character mark Himalayan Art Resources item no. 1906. Height 8½ in., 21.5 cm Condition Report Provenance: Christie's London, 11th December 1973, lot 82. English Private Collection. Literature: Heather Karmay, Early Sino-Tibetan Art, Warminster, 1975, pl. 52. Ulrich von Schroeder, Indo-Tibetan Bronzes, Hong Kong, 1981, pl. 144A. Meaning “enlightened being”, a bodhisattva is an altruistic being who is dedicated to assisting other sentient beings in achieving release from the samsara cycle of birth and rebirth 輪迴 through the attainment of enlightenment; bodhisattvas thus embody the Mahayana Buddhist 大乘佛教 ideal of delivering all living creatures from suffering 普渡眾生. Bodhisattvas are presented in the guise of an early Indian prince, a reference to Siddhartha Gautama’s worldly status as a crown prince before he became the Historical Buddha Shakyamuni 釋迦牟尼佛, implying that just as Siddhartha 喬達摩悉達多 (traditionally, c. 563–c. 483 BC) became a Buddha 佛, so will bodhisattvas eventually become Buddhas, once all sentient beings have attained enlightenment. As evinced by this compelling sculpture, bodhisattvas generally are depicted with a single head, two arms, and two legs, though they in fact may be shown with multiple heads and limbs, depending upon the individual bodhisattva and the particular manifestation as described in the sutras 佛經, or sacred texts. Richly attired, bodhisattvas, who may be presented either standing or seated, are represented with long hair often arranged in a tall coiffure, or bun, atop the head and often with long strands of hair cascading over the shoulders; as evinced by this sculpture, a crown sometimes surrounds the topknot. Bodhisattvas wear ornamental scarves, dhotis of rich silk brocade, and a wealth of jewelry that typically includes necklaces, armlets, bracelets, and anklets. Like Buddhas, bodhisattvas have distended earlobes; some, like this Avalokiteshvara wear earrings, others do not. Though bodhisattvas generally are shown barefoot, as in this example, both early Indian and early Chinese images of bodhisattvas may be shown wearing sandals, often of plaited straw.In addition to the image of the Buddha Amitabha atop the head, which is Avalokiteshvara’s definitive identifying attribute, the bodhisattva typically holds such iconographic attributes as a lotus blossom, a vase, a ritual kundika vessel 淨瓶 for holy water, or is portrayed in association with a willow branch, a Buddhist symbol of healing, both physical and spiritual. In addition to those that comprise the base, two lotus blossoms flank this bodhisattva, one at each shoulder.