YUAN - MING DYN. CHINESE BRONZE GOLD GILT KWAN YIN 100% Start Price USD 1,250.00 Current Price USD 1,250.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price USD 1,850.00 Reserve Price - Start Time Wednesday, August 27, 2008 End Time Wednesday, September 03, 2008 Location Tucson, AZ. See more about 'YUAN - MING DYN. CHINESE BRONZE GOLD GILT KWAN YIN 100%' Description Chinese Bronze Buddha Yuan/Ming Dynasty   A classic meditative Kwan Yin seated on the Lotus Flower, from the Yuan (1280-1368) to  Ming (1368-1644) Dynasty.   This exquisite gold-gilt Kwan Yin shows the natural pitting and color of an aged bronze that has seen burial, with some gold still remaining.  The bronze still retains some of its original clay core from the casting (see last picture).  There is an old repair in the back that can be seen in the fifth picture.  With the High Crown of the Sacred Kwan Yin (with its smaller Buddha figure inside), the red core material, the remains of the white lacquer still inside the serenely closed eyes, and the red lacquer in the mouth, this wonderful old bronze should be considered to be from the late Yuan to early Ming Dynasty Era.  While the gold gilding was applied to the piece prior its burial, it was added at a later time, after the original casting, and not by the usual method of mixing gold with mercury, and then firing off the mercury under high temperature.  Rather, it was applied in a mixture of gold and lacquer, and only to the front portion of the Kwan Yin.  This piece was soaked in acetone for three days to remove the covering on the repair, and all remaining  gold, malachite and other deposits are original and true.  Measurements: 9-1/4" tall, 5-1/4" wide, 3-1/2" deep.    This piece came to us from a provenanced Estate in Naples, Florida.   For decades, it was in the private collection of Mr. Frank Patrone.   Mr. Patrone was a New England Artist and Architect through the 1960's.  This item was purchased during his overseas private-contract travel in the 1930's-50's.   Mr. Patrone was a Surrealist Artist of great talent, and had a keen eye for antiquities and ethnic ritual items of high quality.   He passed away in the 1970's, and left his collection with his wife, who offered selected items for sale. This bronze has also been authenticated by Dr. Timothy Jones, PhD, Anthropologist, formerly with the University of Arizona.  Dr. Jones has accepted invitations to the world's largest museum in Beijing, and has received privately guided tours of the Beijing Museum, which included some of the most treasured vault items hidden away from the general public.  Dr. Jones has directed the excavations and analyses of more than 20 major sites and 40 archaeological surveys, both here and abroad.  Dr. Jones now runs his own appraisal and authentication business, and is certified RPA-IAA.  Dr. Jones can be reached at 520-744-2766.  He helps in the verifications of all our later porcelains, as I do for him on  the older items of Jades and pottery.  He has no vested interest in our business,and we just truly enjoy each others company and knowledge.       You may view this item or any of our other antiquities, fine art or artifacts at our gallery,   by appointment only. We are Antiquities, Plus... David Fredericks 2752 North Campbell Ave. Tucson, AZ 85719 Phone 520-991-2153 Refunds will be made only upon receipt by us (within 14 days of buyer's receipt of the item), of a written verification from a major University Department Head, or Major Museum Curator from a recognized institution in the appropriate field. Note: For International sales, buyer is responsible for all import duty taxes. Place a Bid!