CHINA - MING period (1368-1644) Important statuette of Sakyamuni Buddha, known as "the historical Buddha", in gilded bronze, seated in padmasana, lotus position, on a lotus flower-shaped base, the right hand in bhumisparsa mudra, gesture of taking the earth as a witness, the left hand in dhyana mudra, meditation gesture. Dressed in a finely chiseled robe covering both shoulders, decorated with bands of lotus friezes in their scrolls engraved along the hem, the face serene, sketching a slight smile, the eyes half-open surmounted by the urna, hair raised in a bun and decorated with the ushnisha, the cranial protuberance, the three folds of wisdom on the neck, a swastika incised on the heart chakra on his bare chest, the dharmachakra, wheel of the law, engraved under each sole of the foot. Height of the Buddha : 36,8 cm. Height of the base: 13.3 cm Total height: 46.2 cm. (Wear of the gilding). PROVENANCE - Collection of Captain Georges Pannetier (1876-1955), who volunteered in 1895, then in the marine infantry which became colonial troops. He served in China, in the 16th colonial infantry regiment, from June 21, 1907 to July 6, 1909, then from January 11, 1911 to November 23, 1914. Wounded during the First World War, he was awarded the Second World War Cross, made a knight of the Legion of Honour in 1915, made an officer in 1920 and a commander in 1952. He was domiciled at 6 rue de Bonnefonds in Dierre (Indre-et-Loire). - He was given in 1952 as a mentor to a young friend from Touraine, who puts it on sale today. CONSIGNATION to bid: 15 000 euros. Tel. 01 45 44 34 34. PRIVATE EXHIBITION AT THE EXPERT'S Cabinet Portier - 26 Bd Poissonnière, 75009 Paris. Until 6 December by appointment. Tel. 01 48 00 03 41. Shakyamuni Buddha means "the Sage of the Shakyas". His mission is to purify the negative acts accumulated during 10,000 kalpa. It is one of the most treated themes in Buddhist Art. The iconographic form of this bronze, of the historical seated Buddha making the gesture with his right hand of taking the earth as a witness, in bhumisparsa mudra, corroborates the episode of his life, where he triumphed just before his enlightenment over Mara, the tempting spirit, under the Bhodi tree: Shakyamuni meditates under the tree in order to attain enlightenment, for he has vowed to penetrate the mysteries of existence. Visited by Mara, a demon associated with the veils and distractions of worldly existence, the Buddha remains impervious to all the pleasant and unpleasant distractions by which Mara seeks to divert him from his goal. According to some traditional accounts, the demon's final assault is to undermine Shakyamuni's sense of merit by questioning his pursuit of spiritual enlightenment. In response to Mara, by this gesture of taking the earth as his witness, he declares, "The earth is my witness," the earth trembles and demonstrates that Shakyamuni has attained enlightenment through this act of unwavering determination, making Mara and his demons disappear. During the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1645-1912) dynasties, bronze Buddha statues were mainly made of red copper, which was used for the production of the Buddha.