A CHINESE GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA, MING DYNASTY (1368–1644)

拍品描述

A CHINESE GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA, MING DYNASTY (1368–1644) Cast in bronze and richly gilded, this elegant figure of Buddha rises with poised verticality from a tiered base, the surface still luminous with warm, mellow gilding. The deity is seated in serene composure upon a lotus throne, framed by a sweeping flaming mandorla that arcs upward in rhythmic tongues of fire. The silhouette is both dynamic and harmonious: the upward surge of the aureole counterbalanced by the rounded fullness of the lotus and the grounded stability of the openwork pedestal below. The Buddha’s face is finely modelled, with gently lowered eyes, arched brows and softly defined lips conveying contemplative calm. The hair is arranged beneath a high ushnisha, while elongated earlobes descend gracefully along the neck. Robes fall in fluid, cascading folds across the torso and knees, their linear ridges catching the light and creating subtle contrasts between polished gilding and darker recessed details. The lotus base is crisply articulated with overlapping petals, each petal individually defined, lending vitality and texture to the composition. The figure is cast integrally with its lotus throne and stands upon a waisted plinth pierced with arched apertures, a structural feature both ornamental and practical. The flaming mandorla, rising behind the shoulders and head, is rendered in openwork, its curling flames incised with parallel striations that accentuate movement and spiritual radiance. Such images were created for placement upon domestic or temple altars, serving as focal points for meditation, prayer and ritual offering. During the Ming dynasty, gilt-bronze Buddhist images achieved a refined synthesis of devotional intensity and courtly elegance. The flaming aureole symbolises the enlightened aura of the Buddha, the fire of wisdom dispelling ignorance, while the lotus throne signifies purity arising unsullied from the worldly realm. The harmonious proportions and confident modelling of this figure reflect the enduring vitality of Buddhist sculpture in late imperial China. Graceful in form and radiant in finish, this Ming gilt-bronze Buddha embodies both spiritual authority and the refined artistry of its age. Height: 24.5 cm Weight: 626 g

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