Lot 729. A Rare 'Famille-Rose' Figure of Amitayus, Qing Dynasty, 18th/19th Century. Estimate 80,000—120,000 USD. Lot Sold 962,500 USD to a Private Collector. Photo Sotheby's

seated in dhyanasana on a triangular waisted lotus base with hands held in dhyanamudra supporting a vase with a cintamani emblem, the face with serene expression, the hair enameled blue and partially falling over the shoulders, the rest swept into a high topknot and secured by an ornamental jewel worn behind the five-leaf diadem, the shoulders draped with a billowing shawl wrapped around the lower arms, the bare chest adorned with jeweled necklaces, the robe in pale blue, red and lime green enamels decorated with scrolling lotus and floral roundels, the detachable base enameled with tiers of lotus petals, with the tips of the scarf falling over the front, wood stand (4); height 11 3/8 in., 29 cm. 

NOTE: The Amitayus is always shown in dhyana mudra and with an amrita-kalasha, the vase of long life, filled with ambrosia, nectar pills which confer immortality. The flame emanating from the lotus at the rim of the vase refers to his emanation of the fire element, symbolized by the Buddha Amitabha. The Amitayus Buddha is invoked to cure illness and after death, the hope to be transported to the world of Amitabha who resides in the Western Paradise.

The adoration of brightly colored deities has a long tradition in Tibetan Buddhism and the wide color range available in the famille-rose palette made porcelain an ideal medium to create such Buddhist figures. Nevertheless, these figures remain extremely rare and it is likely that they were especially made on special commission.

It is rare to find these devotional figures with naturalistically toned flesh rather than gilt. There is an identically modeled and painted figure of slightly smaller size in the British Museum dated to the 18th century and donated to the museum in the 19th century by Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks (1826-1897).

A similar example but with gilt decoration was sold in our Paris rooms, 16th December 2010, lot 196.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. 23 Mar 11. New York