Vintage Brass Buddha with Aureole, Nepal (30611)

Description

This finely cast vintage metalwork brass Shakyamuni Buddha reflects the conservative tradition of Nepalese sculpture which experienced few changes in proportion or decorative details over the past several hundred years. Originating stylistically from Gupta and later Pala Indian art, Nepalese artists created their unique style from the 6th-7th centuries that evolved to a distinctive physiognomy including long pendulous ears, wider faces and relaxed features, often embellished with exaggerated postures, decorative flourishes and unique ornaments.

He stands vitarka (teaching) mudra palms out, right hand up and left at the waist, sharing the Buddhist teachings(dharma.) His elaborate cloth covered pedestal rises above two inward facing protective Buddhist lions. Behind him is a full body removable aureole with foliate designs shaped as a two part mandorla; a circle frames the head and an elongated oval surrounds the body. Like many Nepalese Theravada Buddhas, he wears thin, close fitting monks robes covering one shoulder in the “wet style”. Originating in Greek sculpture, the wet style metal and stone images keeps an idealized body modestly clothed while  the body’s shape and details are visible 

Many of the 32 , Buddha’s auspicious traits, (lakshanas) are displayed: elongated upright body, face, arms, fingers, and hands; well-formed nose; fine hair with soft snail crowned curls; soft skin, well-rounded shoulders; a third eye (urna ) in the middle of his forehead and protuberance on the top of the head (ushnisha). Nepalese Buddhist statues had a tremendous influence on Chinese and Tibetan art since both countries imported art and artists from Nepal to adorn their temples and monasteries. 

Sources

Kathryn Selig Brown, “Nepalese Sculpture.” Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History: Essays, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York,