Wednesday, August 30 is the first day collectors of Buddhist Art will view the remarkable collection assembled at Gianguan Auctions.  The items–of gilt bronze, stone, laquered wood, and ink on paper–are mainly figurative representations of the Buddha, Boddhisattva, Guanyin, Guardians, and Acolytes. A few of the paintings are allegorical, or anoconic.

The day's leading Buddhist properties are stone images from as early as 386-550 CE:

• The catalog cover lot is  an elegant gray-stone Guanyin seated in dhyanasana, clad in a plain monastic shawl that exposes a bare chest. Of the Western Wei, it weighs in at nearly one-hundred pounds and is two feet tall.
• From the Eastern Wei, comes a slender standing Guanyin, also gray stone, that commands a petal socle. The deity’s richly pleated garments fall above the feet in a high-low profile. It is three feet tall and about sixty-pounds. Lots 265 and 268 respectively are valued at $50,000 - $60,000.

In the late 13th or early 14th century, just 200 years or less after the founding of the famous monesary at Densatil, homage in the form of a gilt bronze frieze  was created:

• It is Lot 270,  of intricate repoussé depicting Avalokiteshvara in dharmachakra on a stepped throne. The stupa is inlaid with coral, turquoise and lapis. All mounted in a border of chased lotus tendrils. The mantra Om A Hum is engraved on the back. Although the monestary it once graced is unknown, the frieze is reminiscent of items in  “Golden Visions of Densatil, A Tibetan Buddhist Monastery,” exhibited at Asia Society, 2014. The rectangular frieze is $40,000-$60,000.

A 34-arm casting of Vajrabhairava Yamantaka in his role as Manjushri, has two moveable arms grasping his consort while the fixed arms wield weapons. Individually cast and then assembled, this gilt bronze figure is expected to fetch $40,000-$60,000.

Polychrome enlivens a gilt figure of Tara seated in lalitasana. Blue eyes and blue accents to the forehead framing crown make Lot 271 a value at $15,000 upwards.

Also ofo the Ming Dynasty are...

• A rare laquered gilt bronze Avalokitesvara flanked by two smaller bronze figures at Lot 267. She wears an elaborate beaded necklace and a five-point crown. Seated, right arm resting on raised righ knee, the surface is covered with gilt and lacquer. 10" tall. $6,000-$10,000.
• A gilded carved lacquer wood Bodhisattva on a double lotus vase is enhanced with red and blue lacquer. It is Lot 266. $4,000-$5,000.
• Lot 262 is a seated Louhan holding an elixer cup. He assumes a meditative pose and wears loose flowing robes. Lot 262. $3,000-$4,000.

For details on these and other Buddhist figures (as well as Buddhist paintings that will be covered in a subsequent news release here on ArtFixDaily.com), please visit www.gianguanauctions.com. The auction is Saturday, September 9. Bidding is live now on www.liveauctioneers.com and www.epailive.com. For condition reports, call the gallery at 212867-7288 or email info@gianguanauctions.com.