A rare Chinese polychrome carved white marble head of a Bodhisattva on a stand, Northern Qi

H.: 16 cm (incl. stand)
Dim.: 4 x 4,4 x 7,5 cm (the head)

Ref.: Bonhams, London, Nov. 08, 2018, lot 31, for a larger related example. (sold GBP 308.750) (link)

This Bodhisattva head forms an important component of Buddhist sculpture from the Northern Dynasties period. Carved from fine white marble (Hanbaiyu), its iconography reflects a synthesis of Gandharan artistic influence from India and the aesthetic traditions of the Central Plains. The figure wears a foliate crown and displays an elongated oval facial type characteristic of the period.

In terms of carving technique, dense parallel incised lines are employed to articulate the drapery folds and the intricate details of the headdress. The representation of the Bodhisattva demonstrates a gradual transition from the more masculine prototypes of Indian origin toward increasingly sinicized, feminized features, reflecting the broader process of localization in Northern Dynasties Buddhist art.