Ca. 386-534/535 AD. Northern Wei Dynasty. A terracotta tile featuring a beautiful depiction of a seated Buddha wearing garments whose red pigment is marvellously still preserved as is the green of the halo and the black of the hair. Buddha has a raised right hand, with the palm facing outwards and the fingers upwards while the left arm is held close to the body. In Buddhism and Hinduism, this is a specific 'Mudra' ("seal", "mark", or "gesture"), the Abhayamudrā, a gesture that symbolises wisdom, calmness, and fearlessness. The Wei dynasty was the longest-lived and most powerful of the northern Chinese dynasties that existed before the reunification of China under the Sui (581– 618 AD) and Tang (618–907 AD) dynasties. The Wei rulers were great patrons of Buddhism. They fostered Buddhism as a state religion, although the dynasty took particular care to control the religious hierarchy, trying to avoid any church-state conflicts. Buddhism held a great appeal for the Wei rulers, as it gave their leadership a legitimate base in a multiethnic society. Excellent condition. Size: L:330mm / W:168mm ; 4.05kg. Provenance: Property of a North London gentleman; previously acquire on the UK/European art market in the 1990s.