東魏武定元年 大理石雕刻銘觀音立像 《大魏歲次癸亥武定元年》《佛弟子李次明》款

carved in high relief standing on an upturned lotus base and backed against a mandorla, all supported on a rectangular plinth, the deity dressed in long robes draping in ample flaring folds from the shoulders, slightly open at the chest revealing a diagonal undergarment, with two longer scarves intersecting in knots through a bi disc at the navel before looping over the thighs, his left arm pendent grasping a yue axe and the raised right hand holding a lotus bud against his chest, his face with delicate features caught in a peaceful expression, below hair tied in a chignon secured with a tiara and flanking ribbons trailing down his shoulders, the marble with an ochre patina accented by remains of black pigment, the base inscribed on all four sides with a dedicatory inscription, originally on the left side and continued on the back, dated to the fourth day of the seventh month in the first year of the Wuding period of the Wei dynasty (corresponding to AD 543)

姚氏收藏，天津，清末民初
購於五十至六十年代

《魯迅輯校石刻手稿》，上海，1987年，第2函，第2冊，頁335（文字描述）

There is wear consistent with age and old truncated sections visible on the catalogue illustration.The figure has been broken and reglued horizontally across the forelegs and mandorla (old restoration).
"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."

刻文
大魏歲次癸亥武定元年七月己丑朔四日甲辰，佛弟子李次明為亡兒李那延，造觀世音像一𥕥，白玉。
冀州安武軍𠐇強縣千秋鄉故縣村安式家內有白玉像三尊。後至元豐元年二月二十三日，來高才馬、良、趙氏，迎得白玉像三尊，并起塔寺供養，故記。

一尊類似東魏大理石觀世音菩薩像，展出於《Ancient Chinese Sculpture》，Eskenazi，1981年，編號2，出自巴黎 Michon 珍藏；另一尊同類立像，紀年武定三年（545），刊錄於《六朝の美術》，大阪，1976年，彩圖55。亦參考一例，紀年興和三年（541），載於楊伯達及翁萬戈，《Treasures of the Forbidden City》，紐約，1982年，圖版132，同錄一尊坐佛，紀年興和二年（540），圖版131，出土於河北曲陽修德寺，此遺址發掘出超過二千尊佛教造像，涵括北魏至晚唐，包含與此造像類同作例。還有一尊菩薩像，紀年興和三年（541），錄於松原三郎，《中国仏敎彫刻史研究》，東京，1966年，圖版120a。

比較一尊大理石造像碑，雕蓮座觀音立像，並作背光，尊座紀年武定元年（543），展於《Chinese Buddhist Sculpture》，Eskenazi，倫敦，1997年，頁10，編號1。另一尊大理石觀音菩薩像，紀年興和三年（541），售於阿姆斯特丹佳士得1992年6月16日，編號87，後再售於香港佳士得1992年9月29/30日，編號895。