A GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF AMITAYUS, TIBET, 15th-16th CENTURY
Cast seated in dhyanasana on a sealed double lotus beaded base with the hands lowered in dhyana mudra, richly adorned in intricate jewelry, wearing a long flowing robe and billowing shawl pooling beautifully at the base. The deity is skillfully portrayed with a serene expression framed by an elaborate headdress and a pair of pendulous earlobes adorned with ornamental earrings. The hair is arranged in an elaborate double ushnisha surmounted by a lotus bud finial, several locks of hair gently falling over the shoulders.


Provenance:
From a noted private collection in Belgium.

Condition:
Very good condition with old wear and minor casting flaws, small nicks, tiny scratches.

Weight: 1572 g
Dimensions: 17.5 cm


Expert’s note
: The heavy cast with a net weight of more than 1.5 kilos and the fine yet resilient gilding both confirm the dating of the present lot.


Amitayus, the Buddha of Infinite Life
, is the deity associated with the rites that ensure long life. He is especially worshipped by Tibetans, who believe that life can be extended through long lineages, faith, and compassion. It is also believed that one can achieve self-enlightenment and cater to the welfare of others with the help of Amitayus.


Amitayus is also one of the most popular meditational deities
in Vajravana Buddhism where he is highly revered for his longevity attributes, pure perception, and awareness of the emptiness of phenomena. According to the Larger Sutra of Immeasurable Life, compiled during the 1st or 2nd century AD, the infinite merits possessed by the deity resulted from the performance of good deeds in his past lives as a bodhisattva named Dharmakara. Having attained enlightenment, the deity resided in the wondrous realm of Sukhavati.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 15 March 2017, lot 211
Price: USD 13,750 or approx.
EUR 16,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A gilt-bronze figure of Amitayus, Tibet, 16th century
Expert remark: Note the turquoise inlays.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 12 September 2018, lot 308
Price: USD 16,250 or approx.
EUR 18,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A gilt-bronze figure of Amitayus, Tibet, 15th century
Expert remark: Note the size (12.4 cm).




十五至十六世紀西藏銅鎏金無量壽佛坐蓮像

無量壽佛結禪定印平行曡放在雙膝上，趺坐於雙層蓮座上，頭戴寶冠，髮髻高聳，身披束帶，項戴纓絡項鍊，裝飾華麗 。面容安詳，杏仁狀的眼睛，彎曲的眉毛，兩側是長長的耳垂，佩戴華麗大耳環。雙層蓮花座，大蓮瓣。


來源：
比利時私人收藏。

品相：
狀況極好，有磨損和輕微鑄造缺陷、小刻痕與微小劃痕。

重量：1572 克
尺寸：17.5 釐米


專家注釋：
造像銅質緻密，鎏金厚重，其重量完全可以確認其年代。


無量壽佛
是藏傳佛教信仰中地位舉足輕重，他能滿足現世人間眾生對於福壽綿長的追求，特別受到藏人的崇拜，因爲他們相信生命可以通過血統、信仰和惻隱之心而延長。人們還相信，在無量佛的幫助下，死後超脫輪迴之苦，前往美好的西方極樂世界。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：紐約蘇富比，2017年3月15日，lot 211
價格：USD 13,750（相當於今日
EUR 16,000
）
描述：十六世紀西藏鎏金阿彌陀佛銅像
專家評論：請注意綠松石鑲嵌。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2018年9月12日，lot 308
價格：USD 16,250（相當於今日
EUR 18,000
）
描述：十五世紀西藏鎏金阿彌陀佛銅像
專家評論：請注意尺寸(12.4 厘米)。