Qing Dynasty Cast Bronze Sitting Bodhidharma Statue,18th-19th Century Qing Dynasty

拍品描述

Measurements:Height 7 cm / 2.76 inches, width 6.2 cm / 2.44 inches, weight 621 grams, 18th-19th Century Qing Dynasty, Category: Chinese Bronze, Core trading markets: CaliforniaCondition & Provenance:The entire bronze statue is cast in one single piece without any splicing or solder repairs. No chips, dents or perforated damage anywhere on the sculpture. Bodhidharma’s facial features, curly beard and layered monk robe folds are sharply cast with clear three-dimensional details. The layered hem of his robe is fully intact, and the irregular organic base stays complete with crisp miniature mark carved on the bottom. The bronze surface is covered in a consistent, thick antique brown patina built naturally over generations. Soft wear marks only appear on raised areas including the top of his head and robe edges. There is no acid cleaning, artificial staining or refinishing; the original bronze texture is fully preserved. This bronze was first circulated by a vintage Asian art gallery in San Francisco, California back in 2012, then collected long-term by a private Chinese bronze collector based in Pennsylvania, USA. It has been stored in climate-controlled dark display storage all these years, never polished or refinished, keeping all original casting texture and natural aged patina untouched.Object Description:This miniature cast bronze Bodhidharma figure originates from the 18th to 19th Qing Dynasty, crafted as a small devotional statue for scholar’s desk display. It was made via traditional lost-wax casting as a single solid bronze piece. Bodhidharma sits in full cross-legged meditation pose, with a smooth bald crown and furrowed brows delivering a solemn, imposing expression. His thick, tightly curled beard is sculpted with abundant layered detail. He wears a loose monk cassock with natural flowing folds following his body shape, featuring deep, varied creases and realistic folded hem edges. The base is shaped like an irregular lotus leaf matching the statue’s silhouette, with a flat underside bearing a tiny cast mark, a signature detail seen on Qing small bronze sculptures. The bronze core is dense and weighty, covered in a smooth deep brown patina formed by centuries of natural oxidation, with gentle, authentic wear transitions across the surface. Bodhidharma is the founding patriarch of Chan Buddhism. Small bronze Bodhidharma statues like this were widely used as study table ornaments and portable worship pieces in ancient China. Well-preserved Qing Dynasty desk-sized Bodhidharma bronzes with full casting details are fairly scarce on today’s antique market. It is highly sought-after by Western collectors specializing in Chinese bronze art, with substantial collecting value covering sculptural craftsmanship, Zen cultural history and antique bronze collecting.

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