MING DYNASTY, LATE 15TH/16TH CENTURY

The style of the robe which appears to be patchwork may be imitating robes such as the 'Thousand Buddha Robe' included in the exhibition, Heavens' Embroidered Cloths: One Thousand Years of Chinese Textiles', Hong Kong Museum of Art, 23 June - 17 September 1995, no. 42, in which large plain rectangluar panels of silk are bordered by columns formed by small rectangles embroidered with Buddhas, creating a patchwork effect.
A similar bronze figure of Buddha with hands in the same mudra, but wearing the more usual style of robe, was sold in our London rooms, 15 June 1999, lot 36.