Central Asia, Tibet, ca. mid-20th century CE. A fine gilt brass statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, seated in the dhyanasana position atop a lotus pedestal. His left hand holds a begging bowl, while his right hand is positioned in the bhumisparsha mudra (earth-touching gesture), symbolizing enlightenment. The head has been painted separately from the gilded body using a matte gold pigment, allowing for the delicate rendering of facial features as well as an urna mark on the forehead. This "cold-gold" technique is characteristic of Tibetan artistry - rather than gilding the face, gold is applied like paint to create a soft, skin-like appearance. This process is often carried out during the Eye-Opening Ceremony (Thri-nang), a sacred ritual that marks the final consecration of a Buddhist statue or thangka painting, transforming it from an artistic creation into a spiritually empowered object. The hair is coated in blue pigment and the base is sealed with a copper plate. Size: 3" L x 2" W x 4.25" H (7.6 cm x 5.1 cm x 10.8 cm); gold quality: 57% to 79% (equivalent to 13K+ to 19K)
Provenance: private Los Angeles, California, USA collection, acquired in the 1980s; ex-I.M. Chait Auction, Beverly Hills, California, USA
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
SHIPPING EXCEPTIONS: Due to customs clearance issues, we are unable to ship to Germany, Switzerland and Australia. If you live in Germany, Switzerland or Australia, you will need to provide an alternate shipping destination, or we will not be able to complete your purchase. In addition, please note that we are unable to ship ancient items back to the original country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.)
PAYMENT EXCEPTION: Unless a known customer of Artemis, payment for all gold / precious metal / gem lots must be made via Bank Wire Transfer or Certified Bank Check/Money Order, no exceptions.
#192242
Condition
Excellent. Some minor scratches to the surface and minor chips to blue pigment on the hair, but otherwise intact.