Lot 18. A ‘Yungang’ sandstone head of a Bodhisattva, Northern Wei dynasty (386-534); 7cm., 2 3/4 in. Estimate 3,000 — 4,000 GBP. Lot sold 17,500 GBP (24,393 EUR). Photo courtesy Sotheby's.

the face with a benevolent expression, detailed with downcast eyes, arched brows and a gentle smile, the hair swept up behind the pendulous ears into a high topknot, the granulated grey sandstone with a slight pinkish-buff patina, Japanese wood box.

Provenance: Mayuyama & Co. Ltd, Tokyo.

Sotheby's. The Soul of Japanese Aesthetics – The Tsuneichi Inoue Collection, Londres, 13 mai 2015, 10:00 AM