A pair of rare Chinese stone sculptures of two... Lot 3344

A pair of rare Chinese stone sculptures of two "Heavenly Kings", Ming dynasty, 15th/16th century The solid limestone or slate almost fully round, elaborately worked, partially openworked, on a heavy, carved wooden pedestal. Remnants of polychrome pigment. The king of the south with his sword drawn and another king with a large sceptre. The standing figures adorned with indicated Buddha crowns and depicted in magnificent armour with flowing bands of cloth. Dimensions approx. 65 x 35 x 18 cm. Slight damage due to age. One of the figures restored in the area of the feet. The stone knocked in places. Provenance: - International Art and Auction House Berlin, Collection of Dr. R. de Geblaine, Dresden 1930, lots 285 & 286. - Then in the collection of the art dealer Lodi, Munich, circa 1950 - 1965. - Then in the Harry Beyer Collection, circa 1965 - 2013. - Auction of the Beyer Collection at Auktionshaus Ketterer, Munich, 2013. - Part of a large South German collection since 2013. Condition: II - III