A MONUMENTAL AND IMPORTANT SANDSTONE HEAD OF A MING RULER

拍品描述

A MONUMENTAL AND IMPORTANT SANDSTONE HEAD OF A MING RULER China, Sichuan province, Ming Dynasty, 16th century. The face exhibits a serene expression, with almond-shaped eyes and lips gently forming a subtle smile, framed by two slits above and one below, and a slit beside each ear. The head is crowned with an elaborate headdress, featuring a pair of dragons at the front, each grasping a flaming pearl at the center, with a row of petals and archaistic scrolls beneath. Dimensions: Height 65 cm (excl. stand), 87 cm (incl. stand) The size of this head fragment suggests that the entire sculpture was approximately seven meters tall. The slits above the mouth, on the chin, and beside the ears were used to apply real hair to create a realistic beard. This technique was also used in Chinese masks. Literature comparison: Compare a related stone head of an official with a similar expression, dated Yuan to Ming dynasty, 61 cm tall, at Christie’s New York, 20 September 2004, lot 138. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 17 March 2021, lot 252 Mid-Estimate: USD 25,000 or approx. EUR 28,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the similar modeling and manner of carving with similar facial features and cap. Note the smaller size (54 cm).

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