A LARGE GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF SHAKYAMUNI BUDDHA 17TH – 18TH CENTURY |

cast seated in vajraparyankasana on a double-lotus base with beaded edges, the hands depicted held in dharmacakra mudra before the chest, portrayed dressed in robes detailed with incised borders and loosely draped over the left shoulder and leaving the right chest bare, the serene face rendered with elongated eyes beneath arched brows flanking an urna, all framed with a pair of pierced pendulous earlobes and tightly knotted hair and an ushnisha

Collection of Sakamoto Gorō (1923-2016).

The Buddha is in good overall condition, with just typical surface wear, minuscule 0.2cm hole in the casting where the legs meet, loss to the gilding and oxidisation as visible in the catalogue photo. The base has been opened and resealed.
"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."

This impressive large gilt-bronze figure of Shakyamuni Buddha, depicted at the moment of his first sermon after enlightenment, represents a transitional sculptural style from the late Ming into the early Qing dynasty, with the heavily lidded eyes remaining reminiscent of Ming works while the robe style with engraved decoration relates to Qing stylistic developments; see a lacquered wood Buddha in the British Museum containing a dedicatory inscription dated 1692, illustrated in Wladimir Zwalf, ed., Buddhism: Art and Faith, London, 1985, pl. 309. The iconography relates to Shakyamuni Buddha's first sermon after his enlightenment given at Mrigadava, the deer park at Sarnath, where he set in motion the Wheel of Dharma. The episode is personified in the dharmachakra hand gestures, showing the Buddha Shakyamuni with his hands in the gesture of turning the Buddhist Wheel of Law and expounding the dharma.