A partially gilt bronze with polychrome blue highlights sculpture of a Buddha, China, probably 18th–19th century, mark 大清乾隆年敬造 (Da Qing Qianlong nian jing zao, "Respectfully made during the Qianlong era of the great Qing dynasty") and inscription 賢德佛 (Xiande Fo, "Buddha of wisdom and virtue") on the pedestal, mark 般若品 (Bore pin, "Transcendent wisdom"), 14.5 cm high, 1374g

Provenance: collection of Li Ai Vee (1932-2021), chalet Yu-Lan

十八至十九世紀銅鎏金佛像 大清乾隆年敬造，賢德佛銘，般若品款 高14.5厘米 重1374克

來自李愛維收藏 (1932-2021), 玉蘭木屋

The collection of Li Ai Vee

Piguet auction house is honoured to present the last part of the collection of Li Ai Vee ( 李 爱维 , born Eva Anita Li, 1932-2021), a Chinese-German painter living in Switzerland and a fervent collector of Asian art, mainly Chinese and Japanese.

Born in Shanghai, Li Ai Vee was introduced to painting as a child by her mother, herself an artist, and went on to become a pupil of prestigious painters such as Lin Fengmian (1900-1991) and Lu Yifei (1908-1997) in the 1950s. She then spent several years in Japan, where she was a disciple of the Zen master Rinzai Yamada Mumon Rôshi (1900-1988). There, in 1954, she was selected to paint several bamboos on the sliding doors of the Hiroshima Memorial.

In 1958, Li Ai Vee left China and settled in Zurich, Switzerland. In 1965, she met Zhang Daqian (Chang Dai-Chien, 1899-1983), and became a pupil of this internationally renowned painter. That same year, she was awarded the Medal of the City of Paris in recognition of her art.

In 1973, Li Ai Vee moved to Blonay to the chalet ‘Yu-Lan’ ( 玉蘭 , ‘Magnolia’), surrounded by a vast bamboo forest and guarded by carved Foo lions. It was there that she painted, surrounded by her extensive collection of Asian art, which she has enriched over the years. Li Ai Vee has put together a rich and varied collection of objects, combining monochrome vases, paintings and albums, scholarly objects, carved jades and divinities from the Asian pantheon, all of which she has combined with her passion for art.

The entire collection can be found by entering the keyword ‘Li Ai Vee’ in the search bar on our website.