A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF MAITREYA YUAN/EARLY MING DYNASTY

Maitreya, the Buddha of the future, finely cast seated in the position of Royal Ease with his right hand holding a pearl and his left in dhyana mudra, wearing a long flowing scarf and a lotus bordered dhoti tied high above the stomach in a bow and open at the chest to reveal an elaborate beaded necklace, the facial features finely rendered with eyes slightly downcast, a small bud mouth and curly beard, his hair touching each shoulder and framed by a delicate crown centered with a small stupa of Amitabha, naturalistic rockwork base

Collection of Otto Rose, Dresden, purchased in Qingdao between 1905 and1908 (by repute).

See a closely related bearded figure of Maitreya illustrated in Meher McArthur, Reading Buddhist Art, London, 2002, p. 32, pl. 2, where it is noted that amongst the many images of the Buddha of the Future, he is often shown with 'one of his principal attributes, a small stupa in his headress'. Maitreya is often depicted in a pensive pose waiting for his time to appear as the new Buddha in this world. Since he is the Buddha of the Future, he is generally depicted as a Bodhisattva wearing jewelry and earthly clothing indicating his attachment to the world. The present figure is influenced by early Gandharan sculptures of the 3rd and 4th centuries.

Compare an early Ming bronze figure of Maitreya sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 5/6th November 1997, lot 1071; and another figure attributed to the late Yuan or early Ming period, of similar pensive pose and slim elongated torso, sold at Christie's London, 6th June 2000, lot 243, included in the exhibition Chinese Sculpture and Works of Art, A & J Speelman Ltd., London, 2002, cat.no. 8.