PROPERTY FROM A JAPANESE PRIVATE COLLECTION
A SMALL GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF MAITREYA, TANG DYNASTY
Auction Closed
September 23, 08:35 PM GMT
Estimate
40,000 - 60,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
A SMALL GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF MAITREYA
TANG DYNASTY
唐 銅鎏金彌勒佛坐像
the Buddha seated with the raised hand in abhaya mudra, dressed in a simple robe with voluminous fabric draped over the edge of the seat, the deity framed by an openwork mandorla of scrolling arabesques, all supported below by a waisted and stepped pedestal base encircled with lotus petals, the foot with two extended tangs, modern stand, Japanese wood box (5)
Height 4 in., 10.2 cm
A similar gilt-bronze figure of Maitreya, a central figure of a triptych and with the legs pendent, attributed to the Tang and with a related mandorla, is preserved in the Idemitsu Collection and illustrated in Ancient Chinese Arts in the Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo, 1989, pl. 345. Compare a similar Tang period gilt-bronze figure of Maitreya Buddha illustrated in Saburo Matsubara, Chinese Buddhist Sculpture: A study based on bronze and stone statues other than works from cave temples, Tokyo, 1966, pl. 266d, with a similar design but lacking the mandorla. Another example, with a more elaborate but related mandorla, was sold at Christie's New York, 2nd December 1986, lot 347.