TIBETO-CHINESE, YONGLE MARK AND PERIOD (1403-25)

Details

A Rare Gilt Bronze Figure of Buddha Shakyamuni
Tibeto-Chinese, Yongle Mark and Period (1403-25)
Very finely cast seated in dhyanasana on a double-lotus base with beaded rims, his hands in bhumisparsa and dhyana mudras, wearing a diaphanous robe draped across the left shoulder and neatly gathered in cascading folds at his feet, his face with a benign expression with downcast eyes beneath arched brows and bow-shaped mouth with gentle smile, flanked by long pierced lobes, the hair arranged in tight curls and rising to a domed ushnisha, incised with a six-character Yongle mark at the front of the base, the base sealed and incised with a double-vajra, richly gilt
7¾ in. (19.7 cm.) high

Lot Essay

Bronzes in the Tibeto-Chinese style produced during the reign of Emperor Yongle in the first quarter of the 15th century and bearing his reign mark, are highly distinguished for their unsurpassed craftsmanship, overall refinement and gracefulness. Executed by the Imperial ateliers, they display a highly consistent and uniform style,which evolved out of the influence of the Nepalese artist Anige (1244-1306) at the Yuan court and the close links with Tibet established by the Yongle Emperor. The distinct Imperial style includes double-lotus bases with beaded rims and characteristic facial features with broadened outline, gently arched brows above the lidded eyes and subtle smile, all finished with great attention to detail. Yongle gilt bronze figures of Buddha, of which this is a very fine example, are comparatively rarer than figures of Bodhisattvas.

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