A RARE DRY LACQUER FIGURE OF A SEATED BUDDHA

Shown seated cross-legged in meditation, with hands held palms up in the lap, the ends of the thumbs touching, this sensitive depiction of a Buddha likely represents Buddha Amitabha. Also known as Amitayus, Amitabha is the principal Buddha in Pure Land Buddhism and one of the most popular deities in the Tibetan Buddhist pantheon.

The gentle, youthful appearance of the face with small mouth and thin lips, the flat ears which cling closely to the head, the large ushnisha surmounted by a gold ball, and the relatively spikey hair all compare favorably with Yuan-dynasty qingbai images from Jingdezhen, such as the figure of Buddha sold at Christie’s Paris, 14 December 2016, lot 50. Other noteworthy similarities include the slender waist and the lack of any decorative border designs on the drapery, the ends of which ripple at the chest and on the arms.