A RARE GILT-LACQUERED ZHANGMU (CAMPHOR WOOD) FIGURE OF BUDAI, LATE MING DYNASTY

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A RARE GILT-LACQUERED ZHANGMU (CAMPHOR WOOD) FIGURE OF BUDAI, LATE MING DYNASTY Expert’s note Camphor wood, zhangmu, occupies a distinctive place in Chinese material culture. Its penetrating fragrance and natural resistance to insects made it particularly prized for chests, cabinets, and other storage furniture; while it also possessed a regional tradition as a carving timber, gilt-lacquered devotional figures like the present lot identified as camphor wood are comparatively seldom encountered. Concealed beneath the lustrous lacquered and gilt surface of the present figure, the aromatic timber constitutes a material refinement perceptible not to the eye, but through its enduring scent and cultural associations. Camphor also has a long history in Chinese medicine, the volatile oil distilled from the tree being valued for its pain-relieving, itch-relieving, and antibacterial properties. Its selection for the present figure therefore carried particular resonance. Revered as the laughing manifestation of Maitreya and a bringer of happiness, abundance, and good fortune, Budai embodied broader hopes for human flourishing, of which health formed an essential part. A Yuan dynasty gilt-lacquered camphor wood figure of Vairocana was included in the exhibition, Ancient Chinese Sculptural Treasures: Carvings in Wood, Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, Kaohsiung, 1998, p. 46-47, no. 1. China, 17th century. Finely carved and richly lacquered, Budai is seated in lalitasana with one knee raised, wearing loose-fitting monastic robes cascading and gathering in superbly carved folds, parted at the chest to reveal his rotund belly. His face with a broad smiling face and heavy-lidded eyes with neatly painted pupils, flanked by pendulous earlobes. The back with a rectangular aperture. Dimensions: Height 30.8 cm Budai, often referred to as the Laughing Buddha, is a figure rooted in Chinese folklore, representing the qualities of contentment and generosity. He is linked to the monk Qieci, who lived in the 10th century during the late Tang to the Five Dynasties period. Commonly depicted as a round, smiling figure, Budai embodies the spirit of joy and abundance, and is frequently considered a manifestation of Maitreya, the future Buddha, in Chinese Buddhist thought. His carefree, wandering life and generous nature have made him a popular symbol of good fortune and happiness, often evoking a sense of serenity and well-being in those who encounter his likeness. Literature comparison: Compare a related lacquered sandalwood figure of Guanyin, dated 1624 from an inscription on silk found in the sculpture’s interior, 21.6 cm high, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object number 36.40a–e. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s New York, 6 September 2006, lot 1103 Price: GBP 6,000 or approx. EUR 12,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling, manner of carving, lacquering, and subject. Note the much larger size (68.6 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Bonhams London, 12 May 2022, lot 57 Price: GBP 10,837.50 or approx. EUR 15,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the related modeling and manner of carving with similar facial features and expression. Note the larger size (48 cm).

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