AN UNUSAL WELL-CARVED PAINTED WOOD FIGURE OF BUDDHA

YUAN/EARLY MING DYNASTY

Details

AN UNUSAL WELL-CARVED PAINTED WOOD FIGURE OF BUDDHA
Yuan/Early Ming Dynasty
Shown seated in virasana atop a lotus base, with right hand raised and turned toward the body, the two middle fingers and thumb forming a circle, while the left hand rests on the left knee, wearing loose robes draped in such a way as to expose the chest and falling in graceful folds around the body and in cascades over the edge of the base, the head tilted and the face sensitively carved below the wave-carved hair surrounding a red usnisa, with traces of black, dark red and white pigment and gilding
18in. (46.4cm.) high

Provenance

Frank Caro, Successor to C.T. Loo, New York, 1960

Lot Essay

It is very rare to find a Buddha seated with the hand held in the gesture of a bodhisattva and with the head slightly inclined to one side. Stylistically, the carving of the facial features retains a Tang dynasty influence, while the shape of the face is more indicative of a Yuan/early Ming dynasty date.

The results of University of Toronto, IsoTrace Radiocarbon Laboratory, TO-7120 carbon test 14, is consistent with the dating of this lot.