A LIMESTONE SEATED BUDDHA CHINA, NORTHERN WEI DYNASTY

carved seated in dhyanasana on a rectangular base, the hands in dhyanamudra, wearing a pleated robe draped over the left shoulder and partly cast over the right, falling in undulating folds off his left forearm and knees leaving the torso bare, the face detailed with downcast eyes and tight bud lips, framed by long pendulous earlobes and surmounted by an ushnisha, all against a pointed mandorla edged with flames and framed by five dhyani Buddhas seated in niches carved in low relief, and six further small Buddhas on the side above two kneeling donors in profile, the rectangular base bordered with pendent petal lappets supported on two crouching lions flanking a central cintamani jewel wreathed in curling foliage, the patinated stone of dark gray color with pale red undertones

Acquired between the 1950s and 60s.

There is some surace wear commensurated with age as visible in the photo. The front left lower corner of the base and rear left edge of the mandorla are truncated. There is no apparent recent damages or restorations. The sculpture was probably kept in a smoky environment as the stone is covered overall with a dark patina.
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.

This Buddha figure is special for its simple yet deep carving style suggesting an early Northern Wei period date. The rounded face and plain hair are characteristic of early carvings when Buddha was typically depicted young-looking with a plump face. Buddha is also depicted with a serene gentle smile which represents an evolution toward a more typically Chinese Buddha image from its Gandharan predecessors.

Two closely comparable Buddha figures are illustrated in Rokuchō no bijutsu, Tokyo, 1976, col. pl. 50 and pl. 231, together with another seated Buddha, lacking the mandorla but belonging to this group of carving and dated to 466, pl. 49. See another related Buddha flanked by two bodhisattvas, dated to 472, in the Daiwa Bunkakan, included ibid., pl. 230; and a Buddha in the center of a triad stele dated in accordance with AD 455, in the Fujii Yurinkan, Kyoto, published ibid., pl. 228. A further comparable example, in the Yamato Bunkakan, Tokyo, is published in Matsubara Saburo, Chugoku bukkyo chokoku shiron / Chinese Buddhist Sculpture, Tokyo, 1995, plate vol. 1, pl. 44, together with a Buddha seated on a pedestal carved with lions, as seen here, pl. 45b.