A GILT AND LACQUERED WOOD FIGURE OF A BUDDHIST PRIEST, LATE MINGChina, 16th-17th century. Carved standing, bending slightly forward, wearing a rosary bead necklace, and holding a hossu (fuzi) behind his back. Wearing a long flowing robe with a smoothly polished red lacquer coating and an overlapping rhombic pattern. The long hair arranged in an elaborate coiffure under a small hat, the face showing a gentle expression with slender lips forming a cheerful smile.Provenance: Collection of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Sharpe, Strasbourg, France, acquired from Nara, Antibes, in January 2002. A copy of the original invoice, stating the land of origin as China, dating the piece to the 17th century, and listing a (then) current value of EUR 3,811, accompanies this lot.Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, few minor chips, small nicks here and there, and extensive wear to gilt.Hossu (Chinese: Fuzi) is a short staff of wood or bamboo with bundled hair (of a cow, horse, or yak) wielded by a Buddhist priest. Often described as a "fly whisk", the stick is believed to protect the wielder from desire and also works as a way of ridding areas of flies without killing them. The hossu is regarded as symbolic of a Zen master's authority to teach and transmit Buddha Dharma to others. It is frequently passed from one master to the next.Weight: 712.8 gDimensions: Height 31.2 cmAuction result comparison: Compare with a related figure, yet of considerably smaller size, depicting a Daoist divinity, sold by Bonhams New York in Chinese Paintings and Works of Art on 14 September 2015, lot 8004, for USD 5,625.明末漆金佛教尊者木像 中國,十六至十七世紀。尊者立像略微向前付下,戴著佛珠,手持撫子。 穿著長袍,長袍上紅色亮漆塗層,並帶有菱形圖案。 長長的頭髮在一個小帽子下精心梳理,臉部表情柔和,嘴唇形成愉悅的笑容。 來源: 法國斯特拉斯堡Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Sharpe收藏,2002年1月購於日本奈良。隨附原始發票複印件,標明了其原產地為中國,其歷史可追溯至17世紀,並列出了當時的現價3,811歐元。 品相: 狀況良好,輕微磕損,局部有磕片,鎏金漆磨損嚴重。重量: 712.8 克 尺寸: 高 31.2 厘米 拍賣結果比較:比較一尊相似的雕像,但尺寸明顯較小,描繪的是道教神性,於2015年9月14日在紐約邦翰斯的Chinese Paintings and Works of Art,lot 8004,售價USD 5,625。