Northern Wei Dynasty, 386-534 AD. A gilt-bronze figure, influenced by the Gandharan style or that of the neighbouring region of Uddiyana, of Shakyamuni Buddha modelled with hands clasped together in dhyana mudra and seated in dhyanasana posture on a throne flanked by two roaring lions with flaming aureole; robes with U-shaped folds in the Mathuran style and the head with a prominent hnisha, incised inscription to the reverse in four columns, translating approximately as: a 'dedication by Kang Shen requesting a peaceful life for his family', with Sutra on front legs of four-legged podium. See Dr. Naiki, S., Similarities and Differences in Gandharan Sculptures Among Regions, Thursday 22nd to Friday 23rd March 2018, The Geography of Gandharan Art: 2nd Workshop of the Gandhara Connections Project, Classical Art Research Centre, University of Oxford. Exhibited at the major exhibition ‘The Buddha Image: Out of Uddiyana’, Tibet Hoe, 22 West 15th Street, New York, 16 September - 20 October 2010, extended to 16 November and again to 7 January 2011, Buckingham collections, exhibit TB007, p.59 & 160. 211 grams, 14cm (5 1/2"). Buckingham Collection, from the early 1960s to 1970s. Late Nik Douglas (1944-2012), renowned author, curator and Asian art expert. Apanied by copies of the relevant exhibition catalogue pages. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is apanied by AIAD certificate number no.11132-168638. Gandhara was a principal gateway through which Buddhism spread to China. Academic research conducted after the death of Nik Douglas (above) explains that Gandharan sculpture has been found in neighbouring regions, such as in Uddiyana. Sculpture from the Gandharan and Uddiyana regions has similar characteristics and as a result has often remained undifferentiated. As a result of this recent research however, it is bing more feasible to identify distinctions between the sculpture of these different regions.[A video of this lot is available to view on Timeline Auctions .]