Shakyamuni Buddha

Description

Seated in dhyanasana upon a plain lotus base, this Shakyamuni Buddha displays the bhumisparsha mudra — the earth-touching gesture that commemorates the moment of his enlightenment beneath the Bodhi tree. The figure embodies the refined aesthetic of the Licchavi and early Malla periods of Newar art.

The face is of exceptional quality: heavy-lidded eyes with a downward gaze, a finely modelled nose, and lips bearing the trace of an archaic smile. The ushnisha is surmounted by a flame-shaped jewel. Traces of original cold-painted details survive in the eyes and lips.

Newar bronzes of this period and quality are among the most sought-after works in the field of Himalayan art, representing the pinnacle of a metalworking tradition that influenced Buddhist art across Asia.

Provenance

1. 1.Private Swiss collection, acquired before 1970
2. 2.Sold, Christie's London, 7 November 1994, lot 88
3. 3.Private Hong Kong collection
4. 4.Hollywood Galleries Limited, Hong Kong

Literature & Comparative Works

Mary Slusser, "Nepal Mandala: A Cultural Study of the Kathmandu Valley", Princeton University Press, 1982