A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF MANJUSRI

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A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF MANJUSRI
QING DYNASTY, 17TH CENTURY

The deity is finely cast majestically seated in lalitasana with the right foot resting on a lotus socle, one hand held in a gesture of vitarka mudra, the facial features well-detailed below the hair swept up into double topknots above the pendulous ears, wearing earrings and a five-leaf diadem, variously festooned with beaded jewellery chains including a bejewelled belt fastened around the waist above a dhoti, seated on a double lotus base, supported on a separately cast caparisoned Buddhist lion, the animal with its legs purposely astride, the head turned to one side, mouth agape showing fangs, the body decorated with tasselled bells, on an oval lotus platform with beaded sides and triple-layered lotus petals (minor losses)
13 in. (33 cm.) across

Lot Essay

Manjusri is also known as Wenshushili Pusa, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, and its imagery is often found together with Sakyamuni and Samantabhadra (Puxian Pusa). The latter is usually portrayed seated on an elephant.

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