A LARGE GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA, MING DYNASTY
China, 16th-17th century. Heavily cast, seated in dhyanasana with his right hand lowered in bhumisparsha mudra and the left held above his lap. He is wearing loosely draped robes, opening at the chest cast with a wan symbol, the hems finely incised with floral decorations, the garment secured with a belt neatly tied around the waist in a bow. The face modeled with a serene expression marked by downcast eyes below gently arched eyebrows centered by an urna, and full lips forming a subtle smile, flanked by pendulous earlobes. The hair cast in tight curls over the ushnisha.


Provenance:
Property from an important Washington state collection.

Condition:
Very good condition with some wear, particularly to the gilding, and casting irregularities. Minor nicks and light scratches. The interior with remnants of pigment. The bronze with a rich, naturally grown, dark patina.

Weight: 8,451 g
Dimensions: Height 39.2 cm


Expert’s note:
The statue shows several meticulously inlaid miniature bronze plaques of rectangular shape to the back (see detail images online). These plaques have a ritual purpose and are frequently found in Buddhist sculpture.


Literature comparison:

A related gilt-bronze figure of Buddha Shakyamuni, dated 16th-17th century, in the Chang Foundation, is illustrated in Buddhist Images in Gilt Metal, Taipei, 1993, pp. 32-33, no. 9.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams London, 9 November 2017, lot 204
Price: GBP 68,750 or approx.
EUR 110,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A large gilt-bronze figure of Buddha Shakyamuni, 17th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related meditative pose and serene expression, wear to gilt, manner of casting, and decoration with similar incised floral hems. Note the closely related size (39.3 cm).


Auction result comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 19-20 September 2013, lot 1529
Price: USD 147,750 or approx.
EUR 176,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A gilt-bronze figure of Buddha, Ming dynasty, 16th-17th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related meditative pose and serene expression, manner of casting, and decoration with similar incised floral hems. Note the smaller size (30.4 cm).




明代大型銅鎏金佛像

中國, 十六至十七世紀。造像沉重，禪定姿，右手垂下，結觸地印，左手平放於在膝蓋上方。 佛陀沈著寬鬆袈裟，敞胸刻有卐字符，下擺上刻有精美的花卉裝飾，衣服上用一條腰帶系在腰間。面部表情平靜慈祥，雙眉之間有白毫，嘴露微笑，兩側長耳垂。頭髮成螺髻。


來源：
華盛頓重要收藏。

品相：
狀況極好，有一些鎏金磨損、鑄造不規則、輕微刻痕和劃痕。內部有顏料殘留，自然包漿。

重量：8,451 克
尺寸：高 39.2 厘米


專家注釋：
造像的背面可見幾塊鑲嵌的矩形小銅牌（參見在線詳細圖片）。這些小牌經常出現在佛教造像上。


文獻比較：


一件相近的十六至十七世紀鎏金釋迦牟尼銅像，收藏於Chang Foundation，見《Gilt Metal》，台北，1993年，頁32-33，編號9。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：非常相近
拍賣：倫敦邦瀚斯，2017年11月9日，lot 204
價格：GBP 68,750（相當於今日
EUR 110,000
）
描述：十七世紀銅鎏金佛陀坐像
專家評論：比較非常相近的冥想姿勢、表情、鎏金磨損、鑄造風格和相似的長袍裝飾。請注意非常相近尺寸 (39.3 釐米)。


拍賣結果比較：


形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2013年9月19-20日，lot 1529
價格：USD 147,750（相當於今日
EUR 176,000
）
描述：明十六/十七世紀銅鎏金佛坐像
專家評論：比較非常相近比較非常相近的冥想姿勢、表情、鎏金磨損、鑄造風格和相似的長袍裝飾。請注意尺寸較小 (30.4 釐米)。