明永樂 銅鎏金文殊菩薩坐像 《大明永樂年施》款

cast seated in dhyanasana on a double-lotus pedestal, the arms raised in dharamcakramudra to the chest, holding two stalks of uptala lotuses rising up the shoulders, the gracefully swaying figure wearing a dhoti falling into elegant pleats, draped with a celestial scarf around the shoulders and arms, the chest and the waist adorned by elaborate beaded necklaces, the face with a benevolent expression, surmounted by a five-leaf diadem around a high chignon, the lotus base incised with a reign mark reading Da Ming Yongle nian shi

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Unsealed, with a break and loss to the upper section of the lotus stem held in the figure's left hand, as visible in the catalogue image. The uppermost part of the stem still affixed to the hair on the figure's left shoulder. The stem in the figure's right hand with an additional potential loss to one of the stems, resulting in a 3mm area of loss to the hair at the figure's right shoulder. A crack to the celestial scarf beneath the right elbow. The far right hand side of the diadem bent and flattened slightly against the head. Elsewhere, minor rubbing and wear to the gilding, numerous dents and small chips to the tips of lotus lappets to base; the most significant wear to the reverse rim of lotus lappet base.
"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."

文殊，意譯「雅緻吉祥」，明永樂佛像典型之一。本品工藝超卓，身軀朝斜上方微傾，腰身線條流暢，造型尤為精緻。造像展現西藏工藝風格，或為明天子鞏固與西藏宗教領袖關係之贈禮。元朝蒙古君主早已採用若干西藏佛教及喇嘛教禮儀，喇嘛教藝術續傳至明代，本品即為佳例之一。

智者文殊菩薩，睿智靈巧；普賢菩薩，慈悲妙善，常與文殊並列。兩佛或為釋迦如來兩大弟子，常侍佛左右，據稱為歷史人物。文殊菩薩居於五臺山，善說法要，開導眾生，據傳乃奉釋迦如來之命，廣授佛法，五臺山因而香火鼎盛。

本品文殊菩薩身披袍裳，戴天冠寶石，手結轉法輪印。此手印象徵佛陀初轉法輪，於鹿野苑開演正法，啟迪眾生，乃佛陀一生至重要之時刻。右手中、食、尾三指朝上，分別代表聲聞乘、緣覺乘與菩薩乘，左手伸展三指，象徵佛、法、僧三寶。

比較一作例，尺寸略大，出自Benjamin J. Stein收藏，圖錄於Ulrich von Schroeder，《Indo-Tibetan Bronzes》，香港，1981年，圖版147E；另一例售於倫敦佳士得1985年4月16日，編號300；尚有一例，曾售於香港邦瀚斯2007年11月26日，編號7。