NORTHERN WEI DYNASTY, DATED BY INSCRIPTION TO THE FIRST YEAR OF ZHENGGUANG, CORRESPONDING TO AD 520

The distinctive treatment of the drapery that cascades over the dais in a symmetrical, wave-like patten can be found on other Buddha figures of Northern Wei date, such as the stone example illustrated by S. Matsubara, Chuugoku bukkyo chokokushi ron (The Path of Chinese Buddhist Sculpture), vol. 1, Early Six Dynasties, Tokyo, 1955, no. 179, and the gilt-bronze example inscribed with a date corresponding to 508 sold at Christie’s New York, 24 March 2004, lot 73.