A WHITE MARBLE BUDDHIST STELE, NORTHERN WEI TO NORTHERN QI

A WHITE MARBLE BUDDHIST STELE, NORTHERN WEI TO NORTHERN QI China, 368-577. Of rectangular form, deeply carved with the main figure seated in dhyanasana on an elaborate two-tiered lotus base, backed by a flaming halo and flanked by two bodhisattvas, each standing on a lotus dais. Provenance: According to collector’s personal notes from Giafferi Auctions, Paris, 22 November 2006 (invoice not available). A noted French private collection, acquired from the above. Condition: Extensive wear and losses, including the main head, nicks and scratches, remnants of pigment. Weight: 21.2 kg Dimensions: Size 31.5 x 34 cm Expert’s note: Unfortunately, the main head in this stele is lost, which naturally is reflected in the value of the present lot, making this a good opportunity to acquire a fascinating study object at a relatively low price. Note the lotus base on which Buddha is seated, with the more naturalistic lower tier quite different from the more common double-lotus bases seen in works of the Ming dynasty, which clearly took marble steles such as the present one for inspiration. 北魏至北齊白色大理石佛碑 中國，368-577年。長方形，深層雕刻，中心人物結跏趺坐坐在雙層蓮座上，頭后有光背，兩側分別有一個站在蓮花上的菩薩。 來源：根據藏家個人筆記來自巴黎Giafferi 拍賣行，2006年11月22日 (發票遺失)。法國知名私人收藏，購於上述拍賣行。 品相：廣泛磨損和缺損，主要在中心人物頭部，缺口和划痕，顏料餘留。 重量：21.2 公斤 尺寸：31.5 x 34 厘米 專家注釋：很遺憾的是這碑的中心人物的頭部丟失了，藏家們可以出一個相對較低的價格就可以獲得這個非常有研究價值的佛碑。請注意，佛陀坐在蓮花座上，蓮花座的底座于明代較為常見的雙層蓮花座完全不同，後者顯然是從大理石石碑（例如現在的石碑）中汲取靈感的。