FIVE GILT-BRONZE BUDDHIST FIGURES CHINA, 6TH / 7TH CENTURY

including one seated Buddha, two standing bodhisattva, one guardian, and a seven buddhas of the past shrine; together with an 11th century Kashmiri or Western Tibetan figure of Avalokiteshvara (6)

Acquired in Chicago in the 1960s, and thence by descent.

All pieces in the lot have wear to the gilding and surface wear consistent with age. In addition, the third figure has three cracks to the trailing scarf and lotus stem on the figure's right and a crack to the trailing scarf on the figure's left. There is a loss to the gilding, and minor encrustation. The fourth figure has a slight indentation to the back of the head and a scratch down the front of the stand.
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.

Small Buddhist images, such as the ones that comprise the present lot would have formed part of larger altar pieces such as the ones illustrated in Chinese Art in Overseas Collections (Hai-Wai Yi-Chen): Buddhist Sculpture I, Taipei, 1986, pl. 84, and Denise Patry Leidy and Donna Strahan, Wisdom Embodied: Chinese Buddhist and Daoist  Sculpture in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 2010, p. 67-68.

Similar pieces, including a seven buddhas of the past shrine, were sold at Christie's New York, 24th March 2011, lot 1170, and in these rooms, 18th and 19th March 2014, lot 174.