A GILT-BRONZE STANDING FIGURE OF BUDDHA SHAKYAMUNI, KANDYAN PERIOD

A GILT-BRONZE STANDING FIGURE OF BUDDHA SHAKYAMUNI, KANDYAN PERIOD
Sri Lanka, 18th to early 19th century. Finely cast standing in samabhanga on a stepped waisted base with his right hand raised in abhaya mudra. His face is finely decorated with intricate incision work detailing Buddha's arched brows, prominent chin, full lips, and downcast eyes with a spiral urna. The hair rendered in small circular curls, cut nicely around his ears with their elongated lobes. Wrapped in a tight-fitting robe that drapes from one shoulder with wavy grooves.
Provenance:
An old private collection in Germany. Galerie Zacke, Vienna, 14 November 2015, lot 178. A private collection in Hungary, acquired from the above.
Condition:
Good condition with minor wear and casting flaws, the sirispata lost, light rubbing, traces of pigment, small nicks, light scratches, few tiny losses.
Weight: 1,119 g
Dimensions: Height 19.8 cm
The figure's palm
, embellished with finely incised spirals, bears this Buddhist symbol for every being's ability to rise above the 'muddy waters' of their birth and free themselves from the cycle of rebirth and inherent suffering. Along with this symbolism, the monastic robes of the Buddha are unique to Sri Lanka, rendered with wavy grooves which shimmer and mimic the wrinkling of a fine gossamer under Sri Lanka's tropical climate.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie's New York, 23 March 1999, lot 193
Price: USD 34,500 or approx.
EUR 61,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A gilt bronze figure of Buddha, Sri Lanka, 17th/18th century
Expert remark: Compare the related gossamer draping from one shoulder with wavy grooves. Note the size (36 cm).