Juliette Hammer
Sale Coordinator
Lot 28Y
A RARE HUANGHUALI CARVED FIGURE OF BUDAI 17th/18th century
14 May 2025, 10:00 BST
London, New Bond Street£4,000 - £6,000
Ask about this lot
Chen Xie
Specialist
Edward Luper
Specialist, Chinese Works of Art
Lazarus Halstead
Head of Chinese and Asian Art, London
A RARE HUANGHUALI CARVED FIGURE OF BUDAI
17th/18th century
The deity expertly carved seated with his right knee raised, clad in loose flowing robes exposed at the chest and belly, the bald head with jovial expression between long pendulous ears.
17.5cm (6 7/8in) high.
The deity expertly carved seated with his right knee raised, clad in loose flowing robes exposed at the chest and belly, the bald head with jovial expression between long pendulous ears.
17.5cm (6 7/8in) high.
Footnotes
十七/十八世紀 黃花梨雕布袋和尚像
Budai (布袋), often referred to as the Laughing Buddha, is a figure rooted in Chinese folklore, representing the qualities of contentment and generosity. He is linked to the monk Qieci (契此), who lived during the late Tang to the Five Dynasties period (10th century). Commonly depicted as a round, smiling figure, Budai embodies the spirit of joy and abundance, and is frequently considered a manifestation of Maitreya, the future Buddha, in Chinese Buddhist thought. His carefree, wandering life and generous nature have made him a popular symbol of good fortune and happiness, often evoking a sense of serenity and well-being in those who encounter his likeness.
While carved figures in bamboo are more commonly found, those carved in huanghuali, such as the present lot, are considerably rarer. See a related bamboo carved budai figure, early Qing dynasty, in the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in Bamboo, Wood, Ivory and Rhinoceros Horn Carvings: The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 2002, p.29, pl.28.