35.5 cm. （14 in.） high

Property from the Collection of Cheng Huan, S.C.

One of the best known and most-easily identifiable of the eighty-four Mahasiddhas is Virupa, the patron saint of the Sakyapa sect. Virupa lived in 9th century India and was known for his great attainments. Compare a stylistically similar gilt bronze representation of the Mahasiddha Virupa dated to the Yongle period on display in the Victoria and Albert Museum Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Galleries of Buddhist Art, accession no. IS.12：1, 2-2010.

The tradition of Buddhist images carved from highly-prized zitan timber appears to have had its origins in India and accounts of the Chinese monk Xuanzang suggest that he returned from his pilgrimage to India zitan Buddhist images as early at the 7th century. By the Ming dynasty, small figural carvings appear to have become more widespread in China and are known to have been commissioned by or gifted to the Imperial court. The present figure is exceptionally rare for its large size.

Price estimate:
HKD: 800, 000 - 1, 200, 000
USD: 102, 600 - 153, 800

Auction Result:
HKD: --