北齊 大理石雕思維菩薩半迦坐像

the bodhisattva portrayed as the Lord of Tusita, modelled in the round seated in lalitasana on a raised circular base with the left leg crossed over the right knee, his right hand resting on his left foot while the right arm (now missing) bends up toward the face, the hand most likely with one finger raised touching the side of his face in pensive thought, the figures dressed in a long snug robe clinging around the body and draping in loose folds over his legs, the chest detailed with a simple, low relief pointed torque, the round benevolent face finely carved with a broad nose, bow-shaped eyes and a small bud mouth, the hairline framed by a rounded diadem wreathed in curling veils falling behind his pendulous earlobes and along his shoulders, against a truncated bodhi tree, the white marble of slightly pale buff tone with light brown calcified patches on the reverse of the figure

購於五十至六十年代

This is a fragment of a larger stele or architectural niche in its expected truncated condition as visible on the photo. There are some surface patches of brown calcification to the rear of the figure. There is a 1.2 cm scratch to the lower right of the chin of the figure. There is a red painted inventory reference number 2279 on the base. Otherwise there does not seem to be any other recent damages or restorations. The stone has a pale ivory-yellow tinge.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

一件近類大理石半跏式彌勒菩薩像，紀年武平元年（570），刊錄於 Osvald Sirén，《Chinese Sculpture from the Fifth to the Fourteenth Century》，倫敦，1925年，圖版244b，並展出於《Ancient Chinese Sculpture》，Eskenazi，倫敦，1978年，編號12，出自東京 K. Takenouchi 收藏。亦類比二件近似作例，錄於松原三郎，《中国仏教彫刻史研究》，東京，1966年，圖版146a、146b，前者之供養銘文紀年河清三年（564）。

參考一件菩薩立像，特徵相近，同上註，圖版267b，出自倫敦 George Eumorfopoulos 珍藏；還有一例北齊早期彌勒菩薩像，載於松原三郎，《中国仏敎彫刻史論》，東京，1995年，圖版編二，圖版474，紀年天保元年（550）。