Big Buddha on scroll gets highest price at an auction

“Buddhist Hanging Painting of Cheongnyangsan Mountain (Treasure No. 1210),” measuring 10 meters tall (33 feet), became the most expensive ancient Korean artwork to be sold at auction on Wednesday. [SEOUL AUCTION]

A Buddhist scroll painting has become the most expensive ancient Korean artwork to be sold at auction, Seoul Auction said Thursday. “Buddhist Hanging Painting of Cheongnyangsan Mountain (Treasure No. 1210)” was sold for 3.52 billion won ($2.99 million) at the auction Wednesday.

The painting is 10 meters tall (33 feet) and was used as an object of worship. The painting, believed to be painted in the 18th century, features a Buddha wearing various ornaments including a coronet on the head. The starting bid for the painting was 3.2 billion won.

Before this sale, “Album of calligraphic works by Yi Hwang and Song Siyeol (Treasure No. 585)” was the most expensive ancient Korean artwork to be sold at auction in 2012 for 3.4 billion won. Currently, there are known to be three to four such large-sized scroll paintings featuring Buddha, according to Seoul Auction officials. It was not immediately known who bought the painting.

BY KIM HYUNG-EUN [hkim@joongang.co.kr]