Chinese Ming Sancai Glazed Grouping of Parinirvana

**Originally Listed At $7500**

East Asia, China, late Ming Dynasty, ca. early to mid-17th century CE. A beautiful figural ensemble depicting the Parinirvana (literally "nirvana following death") scene from the life of Buddha. Enveloped in sancai glaze of yellow, green, and orange hues, the scene depicts Buddha Shakyamuni laying prone atop his right side, one hand between his head and pillow, his eyelids slowly shutting as life exits his body, all while 3 of his disciples kneel behind him, awaiting the inevitable. Lotus blossoms and scrollwork circles adorn the body and platform of Buddha's integral plinth, and additional coral-hued pigment embellishes the flowers along the walls. Four additional disciples stand around their religious paragon: 2 bearing skyward visages with open, mourning mouths, and 2 weeping with their right hands placed to their cheek. Additional pigments in hues of white, peach, crimson, and coal accentuate the heads of each disciple as well as the sensitive features of Buddha as he transcends from his corporeal existence. Size of largest: 6.125" L x 9.125" W x 8.7" H (15.6 cm x 23.2 cm x 22.1 cm)

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Cf. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 25.227.1.

An example of just the plinth with figures hammered for $60,000 at Christie's, New York "Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art" auction (September 13, 2019, lot 1085).

The largest piece has been tested by Laboratory Kotalla using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full printed and bound report is available to the buyer upon request.

Provenance: private New Jersey, USA collection; ex-private Danish collection, formed in Hong Kong in the 1990s

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#172076
Condition Report: Repair and/or restoration to proper left thumb and loss to fingers on proper left hand of one standing disciple; remaining 3 standing disciples as well as largest piece with Buddha are intact and excellent. Minor abrasions and softening to some finer details, with light fading to sancai glaze, light encrustations, and possible touch-up painting to some unglazed areas. Wonderful preservation to finer details and pigment in most areas. One TL drill hole on base of plinth of largest piece.