Between late Ming dynasty (1368-1644) and early Qing dynasty (1644-1911)

Lanolin white nephrite from Hotan.

Length: 24cm

Width: 22 cm

Height: 86 cm

Hardness：6.5

Hotan jade is situated the first place of Chinese jade. Hotan jade possessed mild and moist luster with glorified translucency, so held high value on the market. The tenacity bolstered meticulous carving fluently and distinctly.

Lanolin white jade was called due to its milky white color as lanolin and presented exquisite texture in sleekness. Lanolin white jade is the most precious breed among Hotan jades and is called king of all nephrite. It is scare and only from Hotan area in Xinjiang province.

Lanolin white jade was main material of this Buddha and fully gilded with gold. The Buddha displayed crystalline mildness, gentle exquisiteness, milky shade, and snowy whiteness. It performed imposing holiness. The Buddha featured by slender shape, bared feet on lotus base, noble crown, and orderly hair in tower-shaped bun. Demure light shined tenderly from the dainty face and downcast eyes. A white mole denominated “Baihao” placed in the middle of forehead. Delicate carving depicted facial features, such nose, lips, and ears. The perfectly chubby face softened with a light smile. The ears bore round floral earrings. Three rings were carved around the neck. Low relief shaped brief necklace of precious stones on the chest.

The long silk ribbon hung around the shoulder and was warped at the end. Each hand carried one “Chuan” (bracelet). Right hand cast down and left hand placed in front of chest uprightly. Both hands posed mudra, the symbolic gesture in Buddhist art. A skirt covered lower part of the body and tied a knot in front of the waist. The gather of cloth placed easily and smoothly as fishtail over lotus base.

It was scare to have gold-gilded jade with design of Tibetan Buddha in late Ming and early Qing dynasty. It not only applied Hotan jade but also techniques of relief, open work, and round carving. Well-executed skill and multiple skills on same ware fitted in with craftsmanship in mid-late period of Ming dynasty. Besides, the magnification displayed jade surface in exquisite quality and invisible polishing. The meticulous craft tallied with craft in Qing dynasty. It also demonstrated carving skill of Ming dynasty which had tailored and sturdy mark like intaglio lines in V shape. After all, this Buddha contained craftsmanship of Ming and Qing dynasties.

Gilding applied material like gold foil or gold mud that was mixture of gold and mercury. After applying gilding to embellish the ware surface, agate or jadeite were repeatedly pressed on the surface for smoothing and glazing the ware. In the early Qing dynasty, the court enacted mining ordinance about forbidding mining of gold and silver. Thus, the gold-gilded Buddha contained much amount of copper components and presented reddish golden color. Under the influence of environmental effects over three hundred years, the gilded gold showed rust marks in blue and green colors. Owing to aged time, the rusts penetrated into the inner directly and firmly.