A PAIR OF GILT STUCCO TEMPLE FIGURES OF BODHISATTVAS, YUAN - MING DYNASTIESChina, 1279-1644. Each modeled on iron armatures, standing with head slightly bowed and dressed in loose-fitting robes open at the chest, the plump face with downcast eyes, broad nose and delicate smiling mouth, the hair neatly dressed in a topknot and encircled by a diadem, one of which is decorated with a rosette.Provenance: Sotheby's London, 9 November 2005, lot 518 (part-lot, together with another pair of similar figures), sold for GBP 6,240 or approx.EUR 11,000 (converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). A European private collection, acquired from the above.Condition: Good condition with minor wear, expected minor age cracks, rubbing to gilt and pigments, tiny losses, minuscule nicks, light scratches.Weight: 2,207 g and 2,366 g (excl. stands)Dimensions: Height 35 cm and 34.2 cm (excl. stands)Each with a modern stand. (4)The Xiaoxitian (Little Western Paradise) Temple, as well as various other temples in Shanxi Province, is profusely decorated with wood and stucco sculptures which have been particularly well preserved, partly due to beneficial climate conditions in the area. The temples range in date from the Liao period through to the late Qing dynasty, and due to the fragile nature of the material were subject to renovation from time to time.Literatureparison:For similar figures in Xiaoxitian Temple, Xi County, see Buddhist Sculpture of Shanxi Province, Beijing, 1991, pl. 31. See also the Ming dynasty stucco figures of bodhisattvas in the Shuanglin Temple, illustrated ibid., pl. 172.Auction resultparison:Type: RelatedAuction: Christie’s New York, 23 March 2012, lot 1766Price: USD 37,500 or approx.EUR 45,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A pair of painted stucco figures of bodhisattvas, Yuan dynastyExpert remark: Note the significantly larger size (54.6 and 55.9 cm)元至明代一對寺廟描金菩薩灰泥立像中國，1279-1644年。菩薩身姿挺拔，微微低頭，身著寬大開襟長袍，面容豐滿，雙目低垂，面露微笑，髮髻整齊盤起，頭戴冠冕，其中一個飾有珠寶。