Stylistic, Technical, and Technological Aspects of the Attribution of Buddhist Sculpture from the Collection of Fine Arts of the Chelyabinsk State Museum

Abstract

The article is devoted to the description and attribution of Buddhist metal sculpture from the collection of the Chelyabinsk State Museum of Fine Arts made with the help of both carving and casting. The article contains some data about the alloy structure of sculptures (whose samples demonstrate that it is different in the head, body and pedestals of the sculptures). Additionally, the authors try to establish whether it is appropriate to apply the materials research method to the attribution of Buddhist sculpture. The research was conducted at the Laboratory of Expertise and Restoration of Objects of Culture, Faculty of Art and Culture Studies, Ural Federal University. The authors describe the history of the Dolon Nor School (Inner Mongolia) the sculptures under consideration belong to. Also, they pay attention to the history behind the study of this region by European and Russian researchers of Buddhist art which blossomed thanks to a unique combination of activity of the highest Buddhist spiritual leaders (from the famous Zanabazar to Changkya Khutukhtu) together with the protection of monasteries and workshops by the emperors of the Qing dynasty. Among all the Dolon Nor items, the authors attribute two as made in the Dolon Nor style, but created in European or Chinese workshops. They also draw parallels, and cite specialists of the Hermitage and the National Museum of Buryatia regarding this attribution.

Keywords

• буддийское искусство
• буддийская скульптура
• атрибуция
• школа Долоннор (Внутренняя Монголия)
• Челябинский государственный музей изобразительных искусств.