A MASSIVE TIBETAN GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA SHAKYAMUNI

POSSIBLY 16TH CENTURY

Cast seated in dhyanasana with one hand held in dhyana mudra and the other in bhumisparsha mudra, he wears robes adorned with strings of beads and incised with floral motifs to the edges, his composed face framed by his pierced elongated earlobes, the urna between his arched eyebrows picked out with a turquoise jewel, 58cm high, 33kg.

Provenance: formerly the collection of Mr Adrianus Cornelis Maria Verhelst (b.26th February 1955), The Netherlands.

The iconography depicted presents the historical Buddha in the earth-witness gesture. This refers to when Shakyamuni triumphed over the demon Mara, who was attempting to divert him from his objective of becoming enlightened through meditation. When Mara challenged Shakyamuni's right to enlightenment, Shakyamuni moved his hand from his lap to touch the ground with his middle finger, calling the earth to witness his entitlement to spiritual enlightenment. Shakyamuni's unshakable resolve forced Mara and his army of demons to flee; moments later, Shakyamuni attained enlightenment.

Cf. Christie's New York, 18th September 2018, lot 51 for a smaller Buddha Shakyamuni possessing similar markings and features.