A Silver-Inlaid Bronze Figure of Siddhartha, the Ascetic Yuan / Early Ming Dynasty

cast in the form of Prince Siddhartha as an emaciated ascetic, depicted seated with right leg crossed in front, the other raised with left elbow resting upon it, and with right hand clutching the left arm just below the elbow, his skeletal frame articulated by protruding bones, the serene, bewhiskered face tilted downwards, eyes looking at the ground in front of his bare feet, his lower torso wrapped in a pair of loose trousers falling just below the knees and tied at the waist with a knotted sash, the trousers inlaid with silver wire with a design of stylised scrolling lotus, the patina of a variegated, brownish-black colour with a tinge of green, the hollow interior with malachite-green encrustation

General surface wear, as visible in the catalogue photo. There are minor bruises and dents to the base. The patina is darker in reality.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

For a gilt-bronze seated figure, in a somewhat similar pose, see Sherman Lee & Wai-Kam Ho, Chinese Art Under the Mongols: The Yüan Dynasty, The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1968, cat. no. 18, where the authors discuss how it was produced by the 'lost-wax' method and argue that the quality and size strongly suggests that it was made for the court. See also a slightly larger gilt-bronze figure of Siddhartha, sold in our London rooms, 27th November 1973, lot 40, and illustrated by Ulrich von Schroeder, Indo-Tibetan Bronzes, Zurich, 1981, p. 528, pl. 150B.