Description Seated in meditation (padmasana), the right hand placed upon the knee, reminiscent of the bhumisparsha mudra, the left hand held forward, the inside of the hands displaying a six-petalled flower. The robes are opened to reveal the chest with an incised swastika and tiny nipples, the antaravasaka (chin. neiyi) is held together at the waist with a belt tied into a bow, while the uttarasanga (chin. shangzhuoyi) and kasaya cover the rest of the body, the hems are engraved with blossoms and scrolls within a thin beaded border. The robe flares out fan-like in front forming a flat base for the seated figure.The large head bears a small urna on the forehead while a larger urna is reserved from the hair curls showing traces of blue pigments and covering the ushnisha. On the basis of the simple garment covering both shoulders, the complete lack of jewellery and the hands held in the mudra of meditation (dhyana) this figure can be identified as Buddha Shakyamuni. He is represented in the pure Han-Chinese style, without any iconographic or stylistic influence of the Tantric or Tibetan Buddhism prevalent at the imperial court. The Buddha's facial features express spiritual serenity. Such sculptures were generally donated to a Buddhist temple by private persons. They were placed on the large wooden altar, which displayed the main figures of worship, usually a triad of Buddhas or Bodhisattvas. To the sides and in front of them smaller Buddhist figures were randomly arranged. As objects of worship they were sometimes donned with a cloth placed around their shoulders. In this case the Buddha Shakyamuni could also have been flanked by his two disciples Ananda and Kashyapa.
Dimensions Height 50 cm
Provenance Private collection, Switzerland
Notes VAT: Regular scheme