Country Group: China, Japan and Korea

Item id: 10769

Very special 7th–8th Century Korean Bronze Bodhisattva. One of the finest pieces in my entire collection. For an almost identical example, see Sotheby’s The Art of the Buddha, Lot 60, September 22, 2004 (New York). That piece carried an estimate of $10,000–$15,000 twenty years ago—before buyer’s premiums, and despite having a face that is noticeably more worn than the example offered here.

Sotheby’s notes that this type of Bodhisattva is extremely rare in early Korean sculpture, particularly because of the distinctive swaying hip posture, a feature almost never seen in early Korean bronzes, which are typically rigid and frontal. This example stands 6⅜ inches tall and displays a superior, more defined face compared to the Sotheby’s piece. The only significant difference between the two is the arm position. It is possible that this arm shifted over the course of its long life and may originally have matched the posture seen on the published example. Otherwise, the parallels are striking.

This is an exceptional early Korean Buddhist bronze, rare in form, graceful in movement, and unusually well preserved. The starting price has been reduced by $7,000 from the original. A truly outstanding and historically important piece—worthy of serious consideration. (7.75"H x 3"W x 2.25"D)-510g.