A FINELY CAST GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA MING DYNASTY, 17TH CENTURY

seated in meditation in dhayanasana, the arms held before the waist in dhyanamudra, wearing a clinging robe with finely incised floral borders, sashed at the waist to reveal the bare chest with a central wan symbol, the face with a gentle expression, framed by tightly coiled curls and protuberant ushnisha, raised on a separate lotus petal plinth supported on the back of a ferocious beast in a sea of waves, the hexagonal base with bracket feet and balustrade, the gilding worn (2)

This lot is in three separate pieces - the base, lotus base, and Buddha. The base is in overall good condition with traces of gilding and polychrome painting. The lotus base also is in overall good condition, with traces of gilding and polychrome. The buddha is in good overall condition, with scattered small casting flaws that were filled after casting. The gilding is worn. There are traces of lacquer in some of the recesses.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The present Buddha belongs to a small group of seated Buddhist gilt-bronzes, dated to the mid to late Ming period. This figure seated in the pensive pose, vajrasana, with his right hand in bhumisparasa mudra, 'touching the earth' and his left in the meditative dhyana mudra on a lotus throne. The full and somewhat square face and features along with the elegantly draped dhoti with its delicately incised lotus scroll border identify this figure as late Ming. The Buddha, still idealized, possesses a definite corporeality of a type distinctive to Ming Buddhist art. Additionally the style of lotus throne with its multi-tiered petals, pendent ribbons with a single colored lotus bloom at the center with shaped swags at the corners is related to known 16th / 17th century examples. Finally, the figure and base are supported by a hexagonal galleried plinth cast with low relief waves at the base is of a style which appears in the mid to late Ming.

Most related examples of this type are Bodhisattvas; figures of Buddha are rare. A similar Bodhisattva dating to the mid-Ming was sold in our London rooms, 14th November 2000, lot 16. A similarly dated and sized seated Buddha is illustrated in Buddhist Images in Gilt Metal, The Chang Foundation, Taipei, 1993, no 7.