A CHINESE ROBIN'S EGG GLAZED AND GILDED FIGURE OF A BODHISATTVA QING DYNASTY Seated in dhayasana

A CHINESE ROBIN'S EGG GLAZED AND GILDED FIGURE OF A BODHISATTVA

QING DYNASTY

Seated in dhayasana, wearing a long dhoti with a decorative belt, a shawl draped around the shoulders with celestial ribbons, and elaborate jewellery and hair ornaments to a tall chignon, holding a small bird in her right hand, the left pointing towards the ground, the body gilded imitating gilt-bronze, the garment and hair picked out in turquoise and coloured enamels, 21.5cm.

Provenance: an English private collection, Hampshire, acquired in the early 20th century.

It has been suggested that these figures are based on bronze prototypes produced during the Yongle and Xuande periods as diplomatic gifts to Tibetan leaders.