宋 銅坐獅文殊菩薩像

cast seated in lalitasana with the right leg raised, the right arm raised before the chest, wearing loose robes falling into voluminous folds, the serene face flanked by a pair of long pendulous ears and crowned by a five-leaf diadem, riding on a lotus flower supported on a caparisoned Buddhist lion with its head turned to its left, its large bulging eyes, thick eyebrows and mane meticulously rendered, all raised on a stepped rectangular base with four bracketed feet

As visible in the catalogue photo, there is extensive malachite-green encrustation to the surface. The left hand is broken off, and there is also a small break to the support below the lotus base, and a minute loss to the tail. Other general bruising and surface wear.
"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."

The structure and composition of this figure is closely related to a bronze figure of the bodhisattva Samantabhadra, in the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated as one of a pair, together with the bodhisattva Manjusri in Zhongguo meishu quanji. Diaosu bian [The complete collection of Chinese art: Sculptures], vol. 5, 1989, Beijing, pls 153-4. Compare also a bronze figure of the bodhisattva Samantabhadra from the collection of Sakamoto Goro, sold in these rooms, 5th October 2016, lot 3222.

See also a smaller Tang dynasty gilt-bronze prototype, previously exhibited at the Kubuso Museum, Japan, 1993, sold in our New York rooms, 20th March 2007, lot 735.