AN INSCRIBED BUDDHIST LIMESTONE STELE, TANG DYNASTY
China, 618-907. The arched stele deeply carved with a central Buddha seated in dhyanasana on a throne, with robes cascading in voluminous folds, flanked by two disciples as well as two bodhisattvas standing on lotus pedestals, all above a central stupa flanked by two Buddhist lions and below a canopy finely incised with foliate designs, all supported on a rectangular base neatly incised with an inscription as well as figures of monks.


Inscription:
The bottom right corner of the base reads ‘Bhikkhuni Zhen […] commissioned the creation of the Buddhist triad for the sick.’


Provenance:
From an old private estate near Copenhagen, Denmark, by repute acquired before the Second World War. Danish trade, acquired from the above.

Condition:
Good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, scratches, nicks, chips, minor losses, signs of weathering and erosion, the stone with natural fissures.

Weight: 17.8 kg
Dimensions: Height 37 cm


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 1 April 2019, lot 3015
Estimate: 500,000 HKD or approx.
EUR 63,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare limestone ‘Buddhist triad’ stele, Tang dynasty, 618-907
Expert remark: Note the smaller size (26.4 cm) and the arched form of the stele.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 15 September 2017, lot 918
Price: USD 11,250 or approx.
EUR 13,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: Grey limestone Buddhist stele, Tang Dynasty, 618-907
Expert remark: Note the related size (34.6 cm), compare the dedicatory inscription written along the rectangular base of the stele.




唐代石灰石佛碑

中國，618-907年。此尊龕式造像碑，裝飾精美。高浮雕佛陀立蓮像，右手施無畏印，左手與願印，身穿寬鬆袈裟，面容安詳。雙眼微垂，面容豐滿，頭上結螺髻。兩側為二位弟子與二位立於蓮花座上的菩薩。蓮座下方兩隻面對面的獅子。矩形底座。


款識：
比丘尼貞□為身患得恙敬造阿彌陀石像一舖供養時佛


來源：
丹麥哥本哈根附近一個私人舊藏，據説購於二戰前；丹麥古玩交易，購於上述舊藏。

品相：
狀況良好，大面積磨損、劃痕、刻痕、缺口、輕微缺損、風化和侵蝕跡象，石料帶有天然裂縫。

重量：17.8 公斤
尺寸：高 37 釐米


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比，2019年4月1日，lot 3015
估價：HKD 500,000（相當於今日
EUR 63,000
）
描述：唐石灰石浮雕一佛二菩薩龕
專家評論：請注意尺寸較小(26.4 釐米)，以及石碑的拱形形狀。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2017年9月15日，lot 918
價格：USD 11,250（相當於今日
EUR 13,000
）
描述： 618-907年唐代灰色石灰石佛碑
專家評論：請注意相近 尺寸(34.6 釐米)。