A rare small cold-painted bronze figure of Manjushri Mark and period of Qianlong | 清乾隆 鎏金銅菩薩坐像 《大清乾隆年敬造》款

A rare small cold-painted bronze figure of Manjushri

Mark and period of Qianlong

清乾隆 鎏金銅菩薩坐像 《大清乾隆年敬造》款

seated in siddhasana on a lotus base, wearing a dhoti with foliate borders draped in rhythmic folds, the face with a serene expression framed by an ornate foliate five-point tiara set to either side with a billowing upswept sash, the front of the lotus pedestal cast with a horizontal six-character reign mark incised below with four characters reading Shangmiao pusa (Manjushri bodhisattva); the back of the pedestal incised with four further characters reading Dexing genben (the foundation of virtuous conduct)

Height 12.8 cm, 5 in.