An Tibetan bronze statue of Shakyamuni Buddha displaying the Bhumisparsa mudra calling the world to witness his enlightenment. The lotus petal pedestal is decorated with  Makara motifs, mythical sea creatures. Mid-19th c. Possibly earlier?

This small bronze Buddha exhibiting the bhumisparsha mudra, the earth touching gesture, stylistically points to the early Pala period of NE India between the 10th c. and 12th c. Though in all likelihood it is an early Tibetan or Nepalese example, a continuation of the earlier Pala prototypes.

Cast in bronze, it displays a natural brown-green patina with remnants of red pigment to the chest from past ritual offerings. The sealed base with clay filing suggests it was consecrated for ritual use in line with Tibetan Buddhist practice. 

The lotus petal pedestal is decorated with  Makara motifs, mythical sea creatures. The fish and conch-like scrolls are auspicious Buddhist symbols representing abundance and purity. The engraved robe border with beaded pattern is again taken from the earlier Pala model. 

This early bronze is one of several recently sourced from a reputable dealer specialising in SE Asian and Indian subcontinent artefacts. Please look carefully at the photographs as they form part of the description. 

Height: 16 cms. Width: 11.5 cms. Depth: 9.25t cms. Weight: 0.757 Kgs. 

Price: £135.00. 

Postage: £14.95.  UK mainland dispatch by ParcelForce 48 courier service.  For overseas dispatch, please refer to details of eBay's GSP, Global Shipping Programme, by clicking on SEE DETAILS in the postage section under the BUY IT NOW button.

SKU number: 12844.

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