CHINE, DYNASTIE MING (1368-1644)

Manjushri (Wenshu), the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, usually shown seated on a lion holding either a ruyi sceptre or a sword. It is intersting to notice that Manjurshri and his lion are separately cast in our current sculpture and this configuration is generally found in early buddhist figures.
Compare to a larger 15th century inscribed and dated bronze Manjushri seated on a lion (30.5 cm high), sold in Christie's New York, 17 September 2015, lot 2134. See another earlier and large gilt-bronze figure of seated Manjushri on his lion (58.5 cm high), also separately cast, dated Southern Song or Jin dynasty (circa 1150–1300), in the collection of the Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, Texas. (Accession No.: AP 1987.05 a,b)