A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF A SEATED BUDDHA, NORTHERN WEI DYNASTY, DATED TAIHE SECOND YEAR, CORRESPONDING TO 478

A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF A SEATED BUDDHA

NORTHERN WEI DYNASTY, DATED TAIHE SECOND YEAR, CORRESPONDING TO 478

北魏太和二年（478年） 銅鎏金佛坐像

seated in vajraparyankasana with the hands held in dhyana mudra, the hair and top knot with finely cast striations, dressed in a simple robe with finely rendered pleats over one shoulder, the back with an aperture for a mandorla, supported on a square base with an incised pattern along the top edge above a stepped and waisted standard further supported by a quadruped base, the front incised with two figures bearing leafy branches, the remaining three sides inscribed and dated, modern stand, Japanese wood box (5)

銘文：

太和二年九月廿一日 益都縣人宋桃根妻范勝二仁造須彌像一軀 𩔊使男女上者生天生者□足𩔊𩔊□心如生西方安洛固社常與佛會

Height 6⅛ in., 15.6 cm