Northern Wei dynasty (AD 386-534)

Lot 820. An inscribed and dated red sandstone Buddhist stele, Northern Wei dynasty (AD 386-534), dated by inscription to AD 500; 10 1/4 in. (26 cm.) high. Estimate USD 5,000 – USD 7,000. © Christie's 2023 The main side of the stele is carved in high relief with a figure of Buddha shown seated in dhyanasana and right hand held open in abhaya mudra. The adjacent sides are carved in more shallow relief, with one showing the Buddha standing between two bodhisattvas below a pair... [Lire la suite]

Lot 735. A gilt-bronze head of Buddha, Northern Wei dynasty (AD 386-534); 1 1⁄2 in. (3.9 cm.) high, softwood stand, Japanese wood box. Estimate USD 8,000 - USD 12,000. Price realised USD 20,160. © Christie's 2022 The oval face is cast with a serene expression, flanked by long pendulous ear lobes beneath the hair neatly arranged in tight curls.  Provenance: Important private Japanese collection, prior to 1968, and thence by descent within the family. Literature: Ancient Chinese... [Lire la suite]

Lot 734. A very rare bronze seated figure of Buddha, Northern Wei dynasty (AD 386-534); 7 3⁄8 in. (18.8 cm.) high. Estimate USD 60,000 - USD 80,000. Price realised USD 327,600. © Christie's 2022 The Buddha is shown seated in dhyanasana on a lotus base, wearing a simple robe that is wrapped around the body and draped over the left shoulder. His face is sensitively cast with a serene, meditative expression with half-closed eyes framed by large, pendulous ear lobes below the curled hair.... [Lire la suite]

Lot 731. An important and very rare stone Buddhist stele, Northern Wei dynasty (AD 386-534), dated by inscription to AD 457; 16 1⁄8 in. (41 cm.) high, softwood stand. Estimate USD 200,000 - USD 300,000. Price realised USD 781,200. © Christie's 2022 The Buddha is shown seated in dhyanasana with hands held in dhyanamudra, wearing robes that fall in heavy folds, and his sensitively carved face bears a contemplative expression, beneath the hair and usnisha carved with a... [Lire la suite]

Lot 76. A grey pottery figure of an official, Northern Wei Dynasty (AD 386-534); 123⁄8 in. (32 cm.) high. Estimate USD 3,000 - USD 5,000. Price Realised USD 5,250. © Christie's Images Ltd 2020 The tall, slender figure is shown with his head turned to the right and his right hand raised in front of his chest, lacquered softwood stand. Provenance: Spink & Son Ltd., London, 1981. Christie's. Art of China. Including Property from the Irving Collection. 18 Nov - 9 Dec 2020

Lot 888. A bronze taotie mask-form fitting, Northern Wei dynasty (AD 386-534); 4 5/8 in. (11.7 cm.) wide. Estimate USD 4,000 - USD 6,000. Price realised USD 2,500. © Christie's Image Ltd 2020. Cast as a taotie mask with curved fangs, a beak-form nose, bulging eyes and a pair of pricked ears which flank a central openwork area formed with a figure standing with arms akimbo on the back legs of two confronted dragons, tieli and softwood stand. Provenance: The James and Marilynn Alsdorf... [Lire la suite]

Lot 2. A grey pottery figure of an earth spirit, Northern Wei Dynasty (AD 386-534); 28cm (11in) high. Sold for £ 3,125 (€ 3,507). © Bonhams The guardian beast modelled with body rearing up on its slender front legs, the grinning face staring forwards with mouth gaping open to show its fangs and lolling tongue, four arching crests running down the spine. Provenance: Sotheby's New York, 22 March 2000, lot 83A European private collection. Note: Compare a related mythical tomb guardian illustrated by... [Lire la suite]

Lot 1151. A painted grey pottery figure of a caparisoned horse, Northern Wei dynasty (AD 386-534); 8 ½ in. (21.6 cm.) high. Estimate USD 8,000 - USD 12,000. Price realised USD 16,250. © Christie's Images Ltd 2018 The horse is finely modeled with a graceful, arched neck and a small, tapered head crisply detailed with flared nostrils, open mouth, and pricked ears. The chest is spanned by a tassel-hung strap, and the rump is protected by leather strapwork armor hung with foliate tassels. The back is draped... [Lire la suite]

Lot 1150. A rare large grey pottery soldier, Northern Wei dynasty (AD 386-534); 22 in. (55.8 cm.) high. Estimate USD 8,000 - USD 12,000. Price realised USD 22,500. © Christie's Images Ltd 2018 Solidly and heavily constructed, the tall figure shown standing with his hands clasped at his chest, his arms concealed by his long winter cape with rolled fur collar, worn over a red-painted under-robe, his broad face modeled with alert expression, pointed nose, furrowed brow and partially open mouth above a short,... [Lire la suite]

Lot 1104. A grey pottery model of a pack horse, Northern Wei dynasty (AD 386-534), 7 in. (17.9 cm.) long. Estimate USD 2,000 - USD 3,000. Price realised USD 2,750. © Christie's Images Ltd 2017 The horse is well modeled standing foursquare on a rectangular base and gazing straight ahead with ears pointed in opposite directions, a bulging sack set over a saddle cloth with flared ends is draped over the back, and the rump and muzzle are applied with plain strap trappings. Provenance: The Aurelius... [Lire la suite]