唐 石灰石雕觀音頭像

sensitively carved with natural rendered features, the rounded face carved with a straight nose and arched eyebrows, the eyelids lowered in a downcast gaze above well-defined pursed lips, all features framed by long pendulous earlobes and grooved hair drawn into a high chignon and set at the front with a diadem modelled with scrolls and swirls, the stone of a grey colour with traces of old pigments of brown, red, green and black, wood stand

山中商會，東京，1932年
日本私人收藏，自始家族傳承

《世界古美術大展覧会》，山中商會及東京美術倶楽部，日本美術協會，東京，1932年，編號353

The head is in unusually good condition for a fragmentary piece of this size, with all the key attributes and areas preserved well, including the full pendulous ears, the elaborate top knot and the sensitively carved facial features. As clearly visible in the catalogue photo, there are bruises and minor losses to the extremities, particularly the tip of the top knot. Drill hole to underside where it is mounted. There appears to be minor consolidation to the tip of the nose and ears, minute areas of the eye lids, and other fragile areas. These insignificant areas of infilling were already present in the 1932 Yamamaka photograph, and the overall patina of the stone is even.
"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."

此菩薩頭像靜美莊嚴，臉相飽滿，眉如彎月，雙目半閉，凝神若思，鼻樑筆挺，豐唇緊合略帶笑意，兩耳垂肩，髮髻雕琢細膩入微，誠唐朝八世紀佛教塑像佳作。

菩薩不忍凡間苦難，願留塵世超渡眾生。眼半張，嘴半笑，觀者所立之處不同，其相亦略有不同，足見藝匠虔誠用心。菩薩彷彿立於苦海與樂土之間，為世渡航，願引眾生離苦得樂。佛教自從印度傳入，歷經朝代無數，菩薩佛相異國風韻已淡，更添熟識之感，尤顯親切。

相類唐代佛教頭像，可見喜仁龍，《Chinese Sculpture: From the Fifth to the Fourteenth Century》，紐約，1925年，圖版466A，或科隆東亞藝術博物館藏品，錄於 B. von Gunhild Gabbert，《Buddhistische Plastik aus China und Japan》，Wiesbaden，1972年，圖版89。另可參考 R.L. d’Argence，《Chinese, Korean and Japanese Sculpture in the Avery Brundage Collection》，三藩市，1974年，圖版104 及106，以及紐約蘇富比1998年3月24日，編號502。