A GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA
NEPAL, 15TH CENTURY
Finely cast seated in Padmasana atop a double-lotus base, his hands resting in Dhyanamudra, wearing a thickly pleated dhoti, adorned with beaded necklaces, anklets, armlets and foliate crown inlaid with hardstones, his face with serene expression and downcast gaze, his hair with traces of blue polychromy piled in a high chignon topped with a knop
7 ½ in. (19 cm.) high
Details
- Title : A GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA
- Classification : Sculpture
- Medium : Gilt Bronze
- Country/ Geo-location : Nepal
- Period : 15TH CENTURY
- Collection : Christies
- LOT : 10
- Lot Essay : In Nepal, the early Malla period witnessed a steady shift away from the Licchavi style as national consciousness grew. During this time, from 1200-1482, depictions of popular deities still retained the simple, human forms preferred during the Licchavi period. The naturalistic proportions of the present figure stem from these prototypes, whereas the round fullness of the face and soft expression speak to a subtle but more distinctly Nepalese development, in contrast to the Pala-influenced Licchavi facial features such as bowed lips and beak nose. This present example demonstrates the transformation between classic Licchavi forms and the later Malla figures with heavier ornamentation and exaggerated proportions. One could consider the present work to be a slightly earlier version of the 16th century Bodhisattva in the collection of William H. Wolff (see U. von Schroeder, Indo-Tibetan bronzes, 1981, p.376, fig.100A). Both display similar proportions and facial type, the Wolff example displaying greater ornamentation and a more stylized base. Certain features of the present example, such as the jewelry and five-part foliate tiara, are reminiscent of Newari craftsmanship in the Kathmandu valley. These echoes of the Newari tradition, as well as the rich copper patina, give the present figure a distinctly Nepalese elegance.
- Price realised : USD 87,500
- Estimate : USD 80,000 - USD 120,000
- Provenance : The Sporer Collection, New Jersey, acquired by 4 March 1973