Vintage Brass Buddha with Aureole, Nepal (30611LEM) $790

$790.00

H: 25.5”  W: 11”  D: 6.5” | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

This fine vintage brass Buddha Shakyamuni sculpture reflects characteristics of unique Nepalese style. With both hands in teaching mudra, wearing in the “wet style” monks robe, he stands with similar to a contrapposto posture, weight supported on a single leg suggesting movement.  His elaborate regal pedestal has a removable aureole with  wheel of the dharma above two Buddhist protective lions. This piece is elegant in its simplicity and expresses the Buddha’s refined and restrained meditative spirituality.

Description

This finely cast 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 in the vitarka-mudra (teaching) palms out with right hand up and left at the waist, teaching the dharma. His elaborate cloth covered pedestal rises above two inward facing protective mythical animals as Buddhist lions before a full removable aureole with foliate designs shaped as a two part mandorla with a circle framing the head and an elongated oval surrounding the body. Like many Nepalese Buddha Statues he wears thin, close fitting monks-robes covering one shoulder in the wet style revealing his idealized body under the drapery. Originating in Greek sculpture, Theravada Buddha metal and stone images, the wet style keeps a figure modestly clothed while making visible the body’s shape and details  Many of the 32 lakshanas, Buddha’s auspicious traits, 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; and an urna (third eye) 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,

 

Additional information

Place of Origin

Nepal

Period

Antique/Vintage (1910-1980)

Date

1940-1950

Materials and Technique

Bronze/brass/copper alloy

Dimensions (inches)

Ht: 25.5" W:11" D: 6.5”

Dimensions (metric)

Ht: 64.77cm W: 27.94cm D: 16.51cm

Weight

22 lbs 2 oz

Condition

Excellent, fine patina demonstrating age and use

Item Number

30611LEM

Shipping Box Size