A small gilt-bronze figure of Teaching Buddha China, Tang Dynasty

seated in dhyanasana upon a stepped columnar plinth issuing from a band of pendant lappets and a triple-stepped octagonal base, his long robes falling in cascading folds over the front and draped across his chest, the left hand resting upon his knee and the right hand raised in abhayamudra, the finely cast face with crisp features and high rounded usnisha

Sotheby's New York, 23rd March 1999, lot 314.

The figure is in overall good condition with abundant gilding remaining. There are three tiny chips to the robe at the torso and one on the left knee; there are two worn down sections to the back of the right shoulder. The lotus lappets surround just the front section of the plinth and does not continue around. There is a small rectangular section to the back-left side of the plinth with reddish hue near some green encrustation, the red possibly a result of chemical reaction when too much encrustation was removed during cleaning. The color is not as washed out as on the catalogue image.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Small images of the 'Teaching Buddha' were extremely popular in the early- and high-Tang period, compare three variants illustrated in Saburo Matsubara, Chinese Buddhist Sculpture, Tokyo, 1966, pls. 266 (a)-(d). The projecting tang at the back of the head of the present lot suggests strongly that it may originally have had a circular flame aureole very similar to pl. 266(d) above. Other gilt-bronzes of similar size have sold in these rooms, compare Sotheby's New York, 22nd September 2005, lot 10.