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Lot Essay
The highly stylized representation of the folds of the robes and the flames on the aureole, which are shown as very narrowly spaced parallel grooves, is an unusual stylized feature of some Northern Wei gilt-bronze Buddhist figures, which may have been inspired by the manner in which very thin fabric drapes itself in almost pleat-like folds around the body. The same kinds of robes and flames can been seen on a number of figures illustrated in Comprehensive Illustrated Catalogue of Chinese Buddhist Statues in Overseas Collections, vol. 1, pls. 69, 75, 80, 81 and 89. Not only the robes and flames of these votive figures are stylized, but so are the faces and bodies. A more naturalistic depiction of the figure and the robes can be seen in three gilt-bronze Buddha figures, also of Northern Wei date, where the diaphanous robes fall around the body, in very fine, but more realistic folds, pls. 60-63.
Several similar Northern Wei dynasty dated votive shrines that also have the three additional small figures of Buddha surrounding the central figure of Shakyamuni Buddha on the front, but no additional Buddhas on the back, have been published. One with an inscription dated to the 22nd year of Taihe, AD 498, is illustrated by Jin Shen, Hai wai ji Gang Yai cang li dai fo xiang: zhen pin ji nian tu jian (Catalogue of Treasures of Buddhist Sculpture in Overseas Collections Including Hong Kong and Taiwan), Shanxi, 2007, p. 429 (top), as well as in Comprehensive Illustrated Catalogue of Chinese Buddhist Statues in Overseas Collections, vol. 1, pl. 67. This votive figure was subsequently sold at Christie's New York, 19-20 September 2013, lot 1460. Other dated examples illustrated by Jin Shen in Zhongguo lidai jinian foxiang judian (Illustrated Chinese Buddha Images through the Ages) Beijing, 1995, include no. 12, in the Freer Gallery of Art, AD 415; no. 34, in a private Japanese collection, AD 482; no. 52, in the Shodo Museum, Tokyo, AD 489; and no. 81, in a Japanese private collection, AD 509. Another, undated, example from the collection of Sakamoto Gorō was sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 5 October 2016, lot 3210.
The three Buddhas on the front and the four Buddhas on the reverse of the current votive figure likely represent the Seven Buddhas of the Past, previous Buddhas who came to earth before Shakyamuni. Usually the Seven Buddhas include Shakyamuni and are: Vipasyin, Sikhin, Visabhu, Krakucchanda, Kanakamuni, Kasyapa and Shakyamuni.
Several similar Northern Wei dynasty dated votive shrines that also have the three additional small figures of Buddha surrounding the central figure of Shakyamuni Buddha on the front, but no additional Buddhas on the back, have been published. One with an inscription dated to the 22nd year of Taihe, AD 498, is illustrated by Jin Shen, Hai wai ji Gang Yai cang li dai fo xiang: zhen pin ji nian tu jian (Catalogue of Treasures of Buddhist Sculpture in Overseas Collections Including Hong Kong and Taiwan), Shanxi, 2007, p. 429 (top), as well as in Comprehensive Illustrated Catalogue of Chinese Buddhist Statues in Overseas Collections, vol. 1, pl. 67. This votive figure was subsequently sold at Christie's New York, 19-20 September 2013, lot 1460. Other dated examples illustrated by Jin Shen in Zhongguo lidai jinian foxiang judian (Illustrated Chinese Buddha Images through the Ages) Beijing, 1995, include no. 12, in the Freer Gallery of Art, AD 415; no. 34, in a private Japanese collection, AD 482; no. 52, in the Shodo Museum, Tokyo, AD 489; and no. 81, in a Japanese private collection, AD 509. Another, undated, example from the collection of Sakamoto Gorō was sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 5 October 2016, lot 3210.
The three Buddhas on the front and the four Buddhas on the reverse of the current votive figure likely represent the Seven Buddhas of the Past, previous Buddhas who came to earth before Shakyamuni. Usually the Seven Buddhas include Shakyamuni and are: Vipasyin, Sikhin, Visabhu, Krakucchanda, Kanakamuni, Kasyapa and Shakyamuni.