EXCEPTIONAL MASSIVE GILT BUDDHA

S O L D

EXCEPTIONAL MASSIVE GILT BUDDHA

Qing Dynasty

High: ca. 91 cm
Wide: ca. 60 cm
Deep: ca. 38 cm

A Rare and Massive Gilt-Lacquered Wood Figure of Buddha

P R O V E N A N C E:

Connecticut estate
South Carolina private collection

EXCEPTIONAL MASSIVE GILT BUDDHA. Shown seated in dhyana, his right had raised in karana mudra and the left had resting on his foot, the Buddha wearing long flowed robes over his shoulders, tied at the chest, cascading into graceful pleats over his legs, the face set with a contemplative expression, flanked by pendulous ears, the polychrome hair arranged in tight curls surrounding the ushnisha, with polychrome lip and eyes.

Figure of a seated Buddha Shakyamuni in lotus position and performing the gesture of expelling demons, the black hair designed as pointed spiral curls with a golden ushnisha in the center , meditative facial expression with the eyes, eyebrows and mouth accentuated by coloring, elongated earlobes, dressed in a robe with rich drapery
Buddha Shakyamuni (Siddhartha Gautama)
Siddhartha Gautama lived in Northern India circa 2,500 years ago. The epithet Shakyamuni refers to his princely origins and can be translated as ‘the wise man from the family of Shakya’. Born as a prince, Shakyamuni felt a deep compassion for the four sufferings of mankind (birth, aging, sickness and death) from an early age. Eventually he left his family to go on a spiritual journey. After a few years he attained enlightenment. As Buddha (‘the Awakened One’), Shakyamuni traveled all over India to share his wisdom with the people and promote peace. At the age of 80 Buddha Shakyamuni passed away and his teachings gave rise to the various schools of Buddhism. (lvp)