Expert’s note:
The present bronze is entirely coated with a fine layer of lacquer applied above the underlying fire gilding, a technique occasionally found on some of the most exquisite Yongle bronzes. This lacquer gilding, made using mercury, shows a rather unique luster and shine, giving the statue a precious appearance. Even after centuries of worship and handling, it retains an unctuous, almost velvety feel. Two notable examples exhibiting similar gilding and patterns of wear, flaking, and patina prove that the Imperial Court commissioned the lacquer gilding of certain Yongle-marked bronzes. The first is a Guanyin, sold at Christie’s London on 13 May 2011 (lot 1295), which had been gifted to Captain W. E. Pye by a Buddhist temple abbot in Tientsin in 1900. The second is the legendary Secret Manjushri in the Palace Museum, which has never left the Forbidden City.

China, 1403-1424. Superbly cast seated in dhyanasana on a double-lotus base with beaded edges, the right hand raised brandishing the sword of truth, the left held near the chest with the thumb and ring-finger pressed together around the stem of a lotus coming to full bloom at the shoulder and supporting the book of knowledge. The sensuously modeled deity is clad in a dhoti gathering in naturalistically detailed folds and richly adorned with beaded festoons and jewelry. His head slightly tilted to the left, the face with a benevolent expression, the neatly incised hair arranged in a coiled chignon topped by a jewel behind a foliate tiara.

Near the feet of Manjushri is the neatly incised six-character reign mark, written from left to right according to the reading orientation of the Tibetan language, da Ming Yongle nianzhi, or 'Bestowed in the Yongle era of the Great Ming'.

The base retains its original sealing and is engraved with a double-vajra symbol.

Provenance: From an old private collection in France.
Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. The lacquer gilding with wear and flaking, thus revealing the fire gilding underneath. Expected old wear, minimal casting irregularities. Few light scratches, tiny nicks, and minuscule dents. Several characters of the reign mark are obscured by the lacquer gilding.

X-Ray Images: Available upon request. These images suggest the possible presence of sacred contents. Since the statue is hermetically sealed and must remain unopened, confirming its contents is impossible, leaving their nature uncertain. The images also confirm the exceptional casting precision, a hallmark of Imperial bronzes from the Yongle and Xuande reigns.

Weight: 1,257.8 g
Dimensions: Height 19.2 cm

This magnificent figure exemplifies the pinnacle of Chinese Buddhist art made in the Imperial workshops of the Ming dynasty. After overthrowing his nephew Zhu Di (1360-1424), the Yongle Emperor revived the patron-and-priest relationship first enacted by the Mongol rulers of the Yuan dynasty in an effort to legitimize his rule. Instrumental to this goal was the creation of portable images in an innovative, Imperial style that were either presented to visiting religious envoys or delivered to Tibetan monasteries as diplomatic gifts. Many of these examples survive in Tibet, testifying to the heightened period of exchange between Tibet and China during the first half of the 15th century.

As demonstrated by the present work, the best of Imperial bronzes from the Yongle period are regarded for their refinement, exquisite gilding, and precision to detail. Incorporating elements from India, Tibet, and Nepal, this syncretic style was introduced by Newari artists employed in the Yuan court between the late 13th and 14th centuries. In its round yet well-proportioned face and plump upper torso, this gilt bronze ranks among the best of its type. Its Newari aesthetic is unmistakable not only in the voluptuous lotus petals and lavish jewelry, but in Manjushri's sensuous movement as he sways his hip to one side, causing his dhoti and the ends of the scarf draped over his shoulders to gently twist in response.

The Yongle Emperor was likely introduced to Tibetan Buddhism and became interested in it around 1380, when he was enfeoffed in Beijing, and of course he had strong ties to the Mongol military elite, who were also adherents of Lamaist Buddhism, so it appears that he continued to practice this form of Buddhism for the rest of his life. Certainly, more works of art depicting Lamaist Buddhist deities and imagery were produced during his reign period than under any other Chinese Emperor, with the exception of Qianlong. Based on the extant number of bronzes depicting the Lord of Wisdom in various forms, the Yongle Emperor likely viewed himself to be the living incarnation of Manjushri in the aspect of an almighty ruler and spiritual successor to the Yuan. For further discussion of this topic see J.C.Y. Watt and D.P. Leidy, Defining Yongle: Imperial Art in Early Fifteenth-Century China, Yale University Press, 2005.

Manjushri is the embodiment of the Perfection of Wisdom. Consistent with iconographic conventions from this period, the bodhisattva is shown wielding a sword and gracefully grasping the stem of a blue lotus which rises and blooms at his left shoulder to support a manuscript of the Prajnaparamita Sutra. Manjushri resides in the Five Peak Mountain, Wutaishan, and is on earth to save people from ignorance. It is believed that Manjushri was instructed by Shakyamuni to transmit his teachings and his residence, Wutaishan, became one of the major centres of pilgrimage for his followers.

Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related figure of the Secret Manjushri, bearing a six-character Yongle mark and of the period, coated overall with the same lacquer-gilding as the present lot, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Buddhist Statues of Tibet, p. 226, no. 215.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 6 October 2023, lot 8
Price: HKD 8,894,000 or approx. EUR 1,048,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A gilt copper alloy figure of Manjushri, Ming dynasty, Yongle-six character mark and of the period
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, modeling, manner of casting, and gilding. Note the similar size (17.6 cm) as well as the lacquer-gilt and cold-painted face.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s London, 13 May 2011, lot 1295
Price: GBP 265,250 or approx. EUR 518,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A gilt-lacquered bronze model of Guanyin, Ming dynasty, 16^th/17^th century
Expert remark: Note how the lacquer gilding obscured the Imperial mark, causing the Christie’s specialist to misdate the figure despite its clear Yongle characteristics. Remarkably, the hammer price far exceeded the GBP 3,000-5,000 estimate, indicating that bidders recognized the statue's true dating. Also note the size (24 cm).

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