FOUR GILT-BRONZE BUDDHIST FIGURES CHINA, TANG AND EARLIER

including two standing figures of Guanyin, a bodhisattva, and a seated figure of Buddha (4)

Collection of James Marshall Plumer (1899-1960)

As seen in the catalogue photo, the tip of the mandorla and tip of the pin at the base of the first figure is chipped. There is some surface encrustation and wear to the gilding typical of pieces of this age and type. The second figure has wear to the gilding and surface wear consistent with age. The loop at the back of the head appears to have been filed down. The encrustation has been cleaned. The third piece has malachite and azurite surface encrustation and loss of gilding. There is a loss to the tip of one end of the trailing scarf and associated chips. There is a loss to the peg at the base of the figure. The fourth figure has loss to the gilding and some malachite encrustation on the base. There is a hole in the base and wear to the features. The catalogue images appears more red than the actual pieces.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The small seated figure of Buddha in the present lot relates to a group of 5th century images of Buddha, illustrated in Saburo Matsubara, Chinese Buddhist Sculpture, Tokyo, 1966, pls 7a-c and 8a-e.

The other figures would have formed part of larger altar pieces such as the ones illustrated in Chinese Art in Overseas Collections (Hai-Wai Yi-Chen): Buddhist Sculpture I, Taipei, 1986, pl. 84, and Denise Patry Leidy and Donna Strahan, Wisdom Embodied: Chinese Buddhist and Daoist  Sculpture in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 2010, p. 67-68.