NEW YORK, NY.- With the recent reopening of the Freer Museum of Art in Washington, DC, it is appropriate that Gianguan Auctions is bringing a strong slate of Chinese Buddhist art to the podium on Saturday, December.

Mr. Freer was the intrepid early 20th century collector who amassed such a extensive collection of Chinese and Asian art, among other things, that he was able to endow the museum that bears his name. The Freer is now a part of the Smithsonian.

According to a 2016 paper by the Peabody-Essex Museum’s Curator Daisy Yiyou Wang, Freer came to Chinese Buddhist art late in his collecting career but was so taken by the subject that he traveled to China’s Longman Grottoes to see how early artisans has spent lifetimes honoring the Buddhist pantheon. When Freer discovered that a lot Buddhist art had made its way to Japan during times of insecurity, he searched out items there too. Ms. Wang states the Chinese Buddhist works or art make up about 12% of Freer’s acquisitions but “were the crowning achievement of the collection.“

Kwong Lum, Founder and President of Gianguan Auctions, responded to the article in an interview, noting the rarity of the items, most of which were produced by anonymous artisans, were actually created as religious tools. And, there are differences in representations of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, each of which has a particular niche in the pantheon.

For instance, the Song Dynasty fresco “Water-Moon Guanyin” is a unique polychrome panel that has weathered the centuries intact. Also known as Avalokiteshvara of the Southern Seas, she is a Bodhisattva, a designation given to deities who surrender their own path to help others achieve the highest state. As such she is portrayed seated on rockery before a double mandorla. The beautiful robes that are outlined in thread relief and enhanced by the glistening quality of mineral pigment are symbolic of the deity’s remaining ties to the mortal world. This 4-feet tall panel is done in the style of 8th century temple painting, a technique still popular among decorators of Buddhist temples. It is similar to a fresco that can be seen at The Fahai Temple located at the foot of Cuiwei Mo. The catalog puts the value at more than $40,000.

The Buddhist tradition continues across all categories, including ceramics. Lot 109 is a copper-red underglaze Buddhist prayer bowl. Its interior center is dominated by a large Lanca character. The exterior is painted with rows of Lanca script. Of the Ming dynasty, with the Xuande six-character double circled mark, Lot 109 is 7-inches in diameter and just 3-inches tall. Its rarity, quality and condition are worthy of a pre-sale estimate upwards of $150,000.

The marquee Chinese Buddhist painting is Lot 98 by Gu Jianlong. “Venerable Buddha” is shown walking through clouds with a tiger, acolyte and guardian. The Qing Dynasty ink-and-color on paper is signed Gu Jianlong and has two artist seals. It is expected to fetch more than $6,000.

Lot 75 is a pair of marble stelae, carved with high relief guardians clenching clubs in their strong hands and trampling beastly demons. At 22.5-inches tall and 12-inches wide, the Yuan Dynasty carvings are estimated at more than $6,000.

Among the collectibles is a slate of home-altar size deities. Lot 160, for example, is a Shoushan stone Guanyin on a lotus seat holding an amphora bottle. It is nearly 10-pounds (4620 grams) and 11-inches tall. Bidding on the well-carved statue begins at $1,000.

Tibetan Buddhism is represented by Lot 162, a Ming Dynasty, bronze figure of Suvannamaccha, Snake Goddess. The guardian of treasures and knowledge is depicted delivering sutra, an oral discourse. When sutras were practiced by followers, many of whom were illiterate in the 14th century, they prompted memory. Ten-inches tall, the Ming figure has a warm, dark patina natural for its age. Its starting bid is $400. Lot 163 is a bronze figure of Maitayus Buddha. The Buddha of a limitless life is seated on a high lotus throne and wears a foliate crown. At 11-inches tall, the statue will go off starting at $400.

In a strong collection of Chinese seals, Lot 10 is a square Tianhuang stone seal with a Buddhist Lion knop playing ball. It is 5”-inches tall and weighs about 3-pounds (1559 grams). It is a delightful buy at just over $800.

With many auction houses dealing in Buddhist art, Gianguan is New York City’s only international house regularly featuring consignments of Chinese Buddhist art. For full details on these and other properties in the Saturday, December 9 sale, please visit www.gianguanaucitons.com. Properties can also be viewed on liveauctioneers.com and invaluable.com. Live previews begin Friday, December 1 and run through Friday, December 8. Gianguan Auctions is located at 39 W. 56th Street, New York, NY. For details please phone 212-867-7288 or email info@gianguanauctions.com