Bonhams. FINE CHINESE ART, 17 May 2018, 10:30 BST, LONDON, NEW BOND STREET
A rare limestone head of Guanyin, 12th-13th century
Lot 64. A rare limestone head of Guanyin, 12th-13th century; 43.3cm (17in) high. Estimate £50,000 - 80,000. Sold for £ 62,500 (€ 71,551) inc. premium. © Bonhams 2001-2018
The head finely carved in sensuous volumes, the full fleshy face with slightly downcast eyes accentuated by wide arched eyebrows, straight nose, plump pouty lips and subtle double-chin, the forehead with a circular recess to hold the urna, with pendulous ears and neatly-dressed hair drawn up in a high chignon secured by a foliate crown fastened fastened with a ribbon at the back and with a central Buddha Amitabha amidst interlacing floral scrolls, traces of coloured pigments remaining.
Provenance: Count Gregorio Calvi di Bergolo, Rome, prior to 2 October 1947, by repute
Mr Moriani, Villa Vitiano, San Polo, Tuscany, Italy, by repute
Raffaello Landini, Villa Vitiano, San Polo, Tuscany, Italy, circa 1950s, and thence by descent
Note: According to the owner, the present lot, amongst other Chinese works of art, was sold to Raffaello Landini in the 1950s as part of Villa Vitiano and its furnishings, which previously belonged to Mr Moriani, who, in turn, had acquired the Chinese art collection from Count Gregorio Calvi di Bergolo in 1947 as part of a Rome apartment and its furnishings.
A list of objects acquired from Count Calvi di Bergolo dated 2 October 1947, Rome, notes two Chinese stone heads (nos.4-5).
Finely carved in rounded volume, with neatly arranged hair below the elaborate tiara centred with a figure of Amitabha amidst intricate floral scrolls, the present head can be stylistically compared with a grey limestone head of Avalokiteshvara, Song dynasty, illustrated by O.Siren, Chinese Sculpture from the Fifth to the Fourteenth Century, London, 1970, pl.563C.