A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF SHAKYAMUNI BUDDHA TIBET OR NEPAL, 14TH CENTURY

cast seated in vajraparyankasana in front a vajra on a double lotus base the right hand held in bhumisparashamudra and the left in dhyanamudra, depicted dressed in a loose robe draped over the left shoulder, his face detailed with fine features set in a serene expression, flanked by a pair of long pendulous earlobes pierced with vertical slots, the head and domed usnisa covered in tight curls

There is some surface wear and expected rubbing to the gilding, consistent with age and as visible on the photo, especially on the divinity forearms and knees. There may be some occasional light touch up to the gilding in gold lacquer, including on the vajra placed in front of the divinity and to the folds of its garment between the legs. There are a few other typical occasional dents or minor surface wear, to the edge of the base, the rear of the head or the top of the usnisa. The actual colour is a little less red, more golden compared to catalogue illustration. The base is unsealed.
"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."

The finely cast figure depicts the Buddha reaching forward with his right hand to call the earth to witness his right to attain enlightenment. The vajra placed before him on the throne indicates the vajrasana seat at Bodh Gaya, Bihar, where Shakyamuni triumphed over the demon Mara and attained enlightenment. Although probably made for a Tibetan patron, the modelling and casting follow Nepalese sculptural traditions, compare the slim and elegant lotus petals of the pedestal to a fourteenth century Nepalese style Tibetan Akshobhya in the Berti Aschmann Collection, see Uhlig, On the Path to Enlightenment, Zurich, 1995, p. 75, cat. no. 32. The style in which the robe is drawn tightly over the body and legs is typical of Nepalese modelling in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, cf. von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet, Hong Kong, 2001, p. 523, pl. 170C.