北周 石灰石雕「一佛二菩薩」造像龕

finely carved with a central figure of Shakyamuni Buddha seated in dhyanasana upon a block plinth, his right hand in abhayamudra and left hand in urnamudra holding the end of his robe, his long robes draped from the shoulder in undulating folds over his legs and swept in double swags over the plinth, all set against a mandorla edged with radiant petal lappets around the head, further flanked by two standing bodhisattvas wearing long pleated robes and trailing scarves, one holding a lotus bud with both hands joined at the chest, the other with his pendent left arm grasping a rosary and right hand raised in vitarka mudra, each with a rounded face gently defined with bow-shaped eyes half open in meditation, a small bud mouth and a broad nose, below smooth hair covering the domed ushnisha, the bodhisattvas crowned with diadems around their curly hair, the stone of pale buff colour with traces of old white and red pigments, smoothly polished to a glossy sheen on the reverse revealing a yellow surface mottled with black specks, wood stand

購於五十至六十年代

The front right corner is truncated as visible in the photograph in the catalogue. There are some old chips to the front left corner of the base and along the edge of the mandorla. There is some wear consistent with age. Apart from this there is no apparent recent damages or restorations.
"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."

北周佛教造像，以現今寧夏回族自治區，固原市西北方之須彌山石窟最為聞名，其特色氣質莊嚴沉穩，身形孔武，方面闊鼻且唇厚。予人穩著、平靜安寧之感。此類特質，部分明顯可見於此造像龕，然其佛及脇侍菩薩造像面相，稚氣純真，實為特殊。此龕佛面相，溫善討喜，是為同期珍稀之例。

參考東京藝術大學收藏一件近類石刻佛龕，錄於《六朝の美術》，東京，1976年，圖版255，同錄一件同時期佛坐像，出自京都大學收藏，圖版256。四件可相類比之北周作例，載於松原三郎，《中国仏敎彫刻史研究》，東京，1966年，圖版191、192。同時期石刻作例，可見一尊曾展出於《佛雕之美：北朝佛教石雕藝術》之菩薩立像，國立歷史博物館，台北，1997年，編號51，同展一尊菩薩坐像，編號52。上海博物館藏立佛，紀年大象二年（580），載錄於 Ann Paludan，《Chinese Sculpture. A Great Tradition》，芝加哥，2006年，圖138。