A Gilt Repousse Copper Alloy Figure of a Seated Monk, Probably Dolonor, Inner Mongolia, 18th/19th Century
清中期銅鎏金上師坐像

Qing Dynasty, 18th/19th Century

The figure with closely-cropped hair, in flowing robes with scroll-incised borders, seated in padmasana atop a draped double cushion with brocade pattern and peony reserves, his hands in Vitarka mudra.

Note:
Compare the treatment of the draperies and the chest to a gilt-bronze repousse Buddha sold at Christie's, New York, September 28, 2021, lot 66; compare the treatment of the double cushion to a figure of a Lama, sold at Sotheby's, Paris, December 12, 2013, lot 33. See also the gilt metal portrait of Gelug Lama Gyaltsab Je from the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, Himalayan Art Resources #75062.

Height 12 1/2 in., 31.8 cm.

This lot is located in Philadelphia.

Provenance:

Dr. Jacob Gould Schurman (Canadian-American 1854-1942).

Brigadier General John Magruder (American, 1887-1958) (son-in-law of the above).

Thence by descent to the present owners.

Dr. Jacob Gould Schurman was a prominent professor, author, diplomat, and philosopher. Advisor to five U. S. Presidents, Dr. Schurman served as the third President of Cornell University from 1892-1920 and was appointed U.S. Minister to Greece and Montenegro from 1912-1913. He served as Vice President of the New York Constitutional Convention in 1915. Dr Schurman was appointed U.S. Minister to China, from 1920-1925, and Ambassador to Germany from 1925-1929. Dr. Schurman’s daughter Helen married then Major John Magruder in the Malacanang Palace in the Philippines in 1922.

Magruder was a graduate of Virginia Military Institute, Class of 1909, and served in the United States Army from 1910-1946. After serving in Europe during WWI, Magruder was assigned to China as Assistant Military Attaché from 1919 to 1924 and then promoted to Military Attaché in Beijing from 1925 to 1930. He was Commandant of Corps, Virginia Military Institute, 1930-1934 During WWII, Magruder was Deputy Director, and then Director of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) (1943-1945), led the Strategic Services Unit (SSU) in 1945 and after WWII. He was instrumental in the foundation of the Central Intelligence Association (CIA). During his time in China, Magruder developed relationships with General Sun Li-Jen (1900-1990) and Chiang Kai-Shek (Chinese, 1887-1975). Magruder also had ties with adventurer and soldier of fortune Vladimir Petro-Pavlovski (Russian, 1897-1971), who married Magruder’s wife’s sister Barbara.

來源：

美国驻华特命全权公使（1921-1925）雅各布·古尔德·舒尔曼（1854-1942）藏。

傳于女婿John Magruder（1887-1958）準將，后家族傳承。

美国教育家、外交家舒尔曼舊藏。舒尔曼曾輔佐五任美國總統，1892-1920年間出任康奈尔大学校长，期間，1912-1913年出使希臘與黑山共和國。1921年6月2日，舒尔曼被任命为美国驻中华民国特命全权公使，1921年9月12日在北京递交国书，1925年4月15日离任。

舒尔曼出使中國期間嫁女，婚禮在菲律賓總統府马拉卡南宫舉行，這尊佛像傳給女婿陸軍準將約翰·馬魯德（1887-1958）。馬魯德畢業於弗吉尼亞軍校，1919-30年間派駐北京擔任武官，與同樣是弗吉尼亚军校畢業的孫立人交好。二戰末期，馬魯德曾任战略情报局局長，并在戰後繼續負責情報工作，參與創立了中央情报局。

Wear and rubbing to gilding, scattered small dings and scattered casting flaws, figure slightly loose on the base which contains sand; scattered surface scratches and abrasions, small triangular patch to lower left front of the base; surfaces soiled, paint drip to the back of one side; chipping to red paint/lacquer at the back of base; areas of verdigris.

Additional photos are updated before the sale via this link (asian.smugmug.com/Sale-2025).
品相细图见链接 (asian.smugmug.com/Sale-2025)，品相报告见上文或联系我们索取。图录中未说明品相的拍品并不等没有磨损、瑕疵、老化或其他问题，建议买家于拍前自行检查。落槌无悔，请对您的竞拍行为负责。如有其他问题，请邮件[email protected]。

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The absence of a posted condition report on the Freeman's website or in our catalogues should not be interpreted as commentary on an item's condition. Prospective buyers are responsible for inspecting a lot or sending their agent or conservator to inspect the lot on their behalf, and for ensuring that they have requested, received and understood any condition report provided by Freeman's.

Please email [email protected] for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.

To request further details about this lot, please email [email protected]

Annie Wu

Senior Vice President, Head of Department, Asian Art

[email protected]312.447.3260

Ms. Wu joined the firm in 2014, after working as a specialist in the Asian Works of Art Department of an East Coast auction house. She researches, appraises, and sells Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, and South East Asian works of art, including jades, bronzes, ceramics, paintings, armor, and furniture. Throughout her career, Ms. Wu has achieved record prices for several prominent estates and collections, including the Estate of Frank G. Mertes, Sr., Winona, Minnesota; the Chinese Painting Collection of Ms. Yuan Jiaying and Mr. Li Guoyuan, Chicago; the Estate of Hisazo Nagatani, Chicago, and the Asian Art Collection deaccessioned from the Strong Museum of Play, Rochester, New York.

Please email [email protected] for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.

Asian Works of Art

A Gilt Repousse Copper Alloy Figure of a Seated Monk, Probably Dolonor, Inner Mongolia, 18th/19th Century清中期 銅鎏金上師坐像

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A Gilt Repousse Copper Alloy Figure of a Seated Monk, Probably Dolonor, Inner Mongolia, 18th/19th Century
清中期銅鎏金上師坐像