Beschreibung:

An important and very rare Tianlongshan sandstone head and torso of a bodhisattva China, Tianlongshan Caves, the head High Tang period (8th Century), the torso probably slightly earlier, Sui / Early Tang period (late 7th / early 8th Century) the granulated whitish sandstone very finely carved overall, the large squared head with chubby rounded cheeks flanking a sensuous bud mouth, finely tapered nose and arching brows separating elongated bow-shaped upswept eyes, the hair pulled up into a high spiraling topknot secured with a transverse ribbon, and the thick locks of hair pulled up from the forehead and with an indented lateral groove supporting the tiara of vegetal scrolls flanking a foliate ovoid panel, the restored back of the head now set with flanking bows of the scarves above large simplified ears, the torso carved in sinuous tribhanga with the right hip thrust slightly to one side and the legs standing closely together wrapped in the looping folds of elaborate dhoti skirts, with the bare torso adorned with a double-looping pectoral of further foliate scrolls flanking a long pendant teardrop, the shoulders with stylized triple-flared flattened tabs of 'hair' and undulating trailing locks above armlets and thin draped scarves, with a pair of thin beaded strands of jewels intersecting at a large bulging rosette at the navel before looping against the thighs, the torso truncated above the left arm, with a mortised break at the right elbow, a further old mortise to the left hip, and later restoration replacements below the knees Overall height including restoration: 44 inches, 112 cm