Beschreibung:

A RARE PAIR OF LARGE GILT-LACQUERED WOOD FIGURES OF BODDHISATTVAS17th/18th century Each figure carved seated in dyhanasana, the hand in auspicious mudras, clad in long flowing robes worn over rounded shoulders and falling in gentle folds around around the legs, and tied on neat bows at mid-bellies framing exposed chests, both with serene expression framed by wide-lobed pendant ears, one with an elaborate tiara around high chignon, covered overall with gilt lacquer. Each 61cm (24in) high. (2).Footnotes十七/十八世紀 木漆金菩薩像一對 Provenance: Dr Walter Rieder (1890-1986) Dr Walter Rieder (1890-1986) served in the Swiss East Asia Mission (SOAM) in Qingdao, Shandong Province, between October 1930 and December 1951. The mission specialised in educational, literary and philanthropic work and Dr Rieder was in fact, not a theologian or missionary, but a teacher of mathematics, physics and science to high school students attached to the SOAM. His guiding principles were 'Creating understanding between different cultures' and 'Building bridges between East and West'. While in Qingdao, Dr Rieder collected a wide variety of Chinese art. The objects in the collection thus offer a unique window into the type of antiques that were on the market in Qingdao in the second quarter of the 20th century. As well as demonstrating his passion for Chinese art, his collection also reveals the personal friendships Dr Rieder forged with local artists, some of whom he knew from his teaching activities. Dr Rieder had a scholarly approach to studying his collection. Alongside many of his objects, meticulous notes can sometimes be found detailing his art historical commentaries. The collection was hence Dr Rieder's gateway to the history and culture of China. Objects from the collection were exhibited at the Kunsthaus in Interlaken, Switzerland in 2006 and 2018. 來源：Walter Rieder博士（1890-1986）舊藏 1930年10月至1951年12月間，Walter Rieder博士（1890-1986）於山東青島的瑞士東亞使團 (SOAM) 任職。該組織專注於教育、文學和慈善工作，但Rieder博士並非作為傳教士，而是作為一名教師，教授高中數學、物理及科學科目，並以促進"文化間交流理解"和"搭建東西方文化的橋樑"為己任。在其旅居青島期間，Rieder博士大量收藏了各類中國藝術品。通過本次拍賣所呈現的拍品，我們得以一窺二十世紀後半葉的青島古董市場。 Rieder博士的藏品不僅展示了他對中國藝術的熱情，還反應了其任教期間與當地的文人逸士建立的個人友誼。 Rieder博士還對其藏品進行了學術研究，並對很多物品留下了詳細筆記。也因為此，這些藏品也成為了Rieder博士了解中國歷史和文化的門戶。 本次上拍的拍品曾於2006年與2018年於瑞士因特拉肯的美術館展出。 The striking pair of gilt-lacquered wood figures of Bodhisattvas are expertly carved demonstrating superb craftsmanship, naturalistically rendering the soft folds of the robe cascading over the shoulders, the contemplative faces gracefully conveying their benevolence. The benevolent facial expressions, shown in the plump cheeks, downcast eyes and gentle smiles, together with free flowing draperies intricately sculpted by fine folds and contours, suggest that the present pair of figures depict Avalokiteshvara, also known as Guanyin, the benevolent Goddess of Mercy. Venerated in Indian Buddhism as the embodiment of the Compassion of the Buddha, Avalokiteshvara (known as Guanyin in China) is described in the 'Lotus Sutra', as capable of hearing all mankind, striving endlessly to help those offering prayers, transforming at will and appearing in more than thirty human guises to expound Buddhist teaching to devotees. The present pair of figures would most likely have stood on an altar, venerated in connection with religious beliefs concerning the devotee's rebirth in the blissful Pure Land presided over by Amithaba Buddha. Introduced into China from India during the 2nd century AD, 'Pure Land' Buddhism was based on the belief that Amitabha granted rebirth of the dead in his wondrous realm to whoever meditated on him through chanting and prostration. The three main scriptures forming the core of the Pure Land teachings, namely the 'Sutra of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life', the 'Sutra of Visualizing the Buddha of Immeasurable Life', and the 'Amitabha Sutra', all refer to Amitabha and Guanyin as capable of liberating the devotees from the Wheel of Samsara and allowing them entry into the Pure Land where they finally