Budai – Chinese bronze statue, deep historical patina, possibly early Qing or earlier – lot 139

Estimated value: €1,500 – €2,500  

Chinese bronze statue of Budai (the Laughing Buddha), solid cast and originally fire-gilded. The surface displays an exceptionally deeply developed blue-green copper oxidation with dark, enclosed zones and only traces of gold in the upper parts. This patina is inactive, not powdery, and shows no recent change, indicating long-term natural formation followed by a long period of stable storage. The patina is structurally anchored in the bronze and visually comparable to very old Chinese gilded bronzes, as known from temple and shrine contexts.

The statue is heavy and compact in form, with a restrained but convincing expression. The modeling is austere and functional, without decorative exaggeration, fitting older Budai types from religious contexts. Inlaid eyes and teeth show aging and material behavior consistent with historical deployment and long-term use. Based on surface, oxidation behavior, and construction, this is not modern decorative bronze, but a historical object with a long history of development, plausibly placed before the late 19th century, possibly early Qing or earlier. Dimensions: height 23 cm × width 11.5 cm, weight 1.7 kg.