329 - SEATED BRONZE GILT BUDDHA SHAKYAMUNI TIBET 19TH CENTURY

SEATED BRONZE GILT BUDDHA SHAKYAMUNI TIBET 19TH CENTURY Dimensions: Height 18 cm Wide 11 cm Depth 9 cm Weight: 1528 grams A seated gilt-bronze Buddha Shakyamuni shown cross-legged upon a broad double-lotus pedestal. The right hand descends towards the knee in the earth-touching gesture, while the left rests palm-up in the lap. The serene face is framed by long earlobes and an elaborate jewelled crown set with coloured cabochon-like elements. Incised borders enrich the robe, while the bright gilded surface gives the compact figure a strong, luminous presence. The earth-touching gesture, or bhumisparsha mudra, refers to the moment of Shakyamuni's awakening when he called the earth to witness his accumulated merit. In Tibetan Buddhist art this decisive gesture could be combined with richly ornamented crowns and robes, bringing together the historical Buddha's iconography with a heightened ceremonial appearance.