Buddha Bhaisajyaguru (Yao shih fo)

Object Details

• Description

  Statuette: Bhaisajyaguru (Yao shih fo). Surface: gilded; green and reddish patina on worn areas.

• Provenance

  Mrs. Christian R. Holmes (1871-1941), New York and "The Chimneys," Sands Point, Port Washington, Long Island. [1]

  From at least 1944 to 1945

  Tonying and Company, New York from at least March 8, 1944. [2]

  From 1945

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Tonying and Company, New York on May 24, 1945. [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See A. G. Wenley’s letter to C. F. Yau, Tonying and Co., dated May 22, 1945, copy in object file, in which Wenley confirms acquisition of the sculpture and states that it came from Mrs. Christian R. Holmes’s collection.

  [2] See “List of Objects Contemplated for Purchase by the Freer Gallery of Art,” approved by the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution on March 8, 1944, copy in object file.

  [3] See Tonying & Company’s invoice, dated May 24, 1945, in which the object figures under no. B. 11: “Gilt Bronze figure of Buddha, standing on Lotus Pedestal / Six Dynasties,” copy in object file.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Buddhist Art (May 9, 1993 to August 9, 2011)

  Chinese Art (January 1, 1963 to March 6, 1981)

  Special Exhibit for King and Queen of Nepal (April 26, 1960 to January 1, 1963)

  Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Buddhist Art (July 19, 1958 to April 26, 1960)

  Special Exhibition, Chinese Art, 1946 (August 7, 1946 to January 7, 1947)

  Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Painting and Sculpture (November 15, 1944 to February 25, 1956)

  Stone Sculpture, Buddhist Bronze, and Chinese Painting (May 2, 1923 to February 25, 1956)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Mrs. Christian R. Holmes (1871-1941)

  Tonying and Company 通運公司 (established 1902)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Sculpture

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  500s

• Name

  Holmes, Christian R., Tonying and Company

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Gilding, Bronze, Period of Division (220 - 589), Art, Sculpture, Chinese Art, Abhaya mudra, Northern Wei dynasty (386 - 534), Buddha Bhaisajyaguru, Metal-work

• Culture

  Buddhists, Chinese

• Object Type

  Sculpture