清十七/十八世紀 銅鎏金燃燈佛坐像 《□五》款

the figure seated in dhyanasana on a double-lotus, his hands in dharmachakramudra, wearing a shawl with foliate hem over his left shoulder revealing a bare chest, with serene facial expression framed by pendulous ears, the hair gathered in tight curls surmounted by a domed ushnisa, inscribed on the underside with an undecipherable character and the numeral reading wu (five)

Unsealed, with a section to the foot out and re-stuck (measuring approximately 20mm and slightly loose) and another 15mm area of bronze repair to the base. Numerous other small areas of bronze repair elsewhere, most visibly to the torso, right shoulder and face. Minor wear to the gilding and otherwise in excellent condition.
"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."

此尊燃燈佛高坐蓮台，手結轉法輪印，靜謐莊嚴，造工精妙。佛經記載，燃燈古佛，乃釋迦牟尼佛之前輩，亦為首轉法輪之佛，佛教因此而生。《本生經》記載釋迦過去世受生為各身形身分，而行菩薩道之事跡，釋尊之前身為善慧，苦行修道，見地泥濘，解髮布地，使燃燈佛蹈之而過。佛因授記曰：「是後九十一劫，名賢劫，汝當作佛，號釋迦文如來。」

相近銅鎏金造像，可參考數例，其一圖見《中國藏傳佛教金銅造像藝術》，卷1，北京，2000年，圖版64；羅得島設計學院美術館亦藏一例，曾展於《Wisdom Embodied. Chinese Buddhist and Daoist Sculpture in the Metropolitan Museum of Art》，紐約大都會藝術博物館，2010年，圖27；再有一例，1662年製，出自John M. Crawford Jr.收藏，圖錄於Ulrich von Schroeder，《Indo-Tibetan Bronzes》，Hong Kong，1981年，頁152，圖版152A。

燃燈佛造像，早於北魏已有製作，《Wisdom Embodied》曾展一砂岩石作例，前述出處 ，編號5。