A LARGE INSCRIBED SANDSTONE STELE OF A SEATED BUDDHA NORTHERN QI DYNASTY, DATED TO 560 AD

the granulated grey sandstone with a slight pinkish buff patina, carved with a Buddha seated in dhyanasana on a square base, his left hand in varadamudra and the now missing right hand possibly raised in abhayamudra, dressed in a long monastic robe draped over his left shoulder leaving the torso bare and falling in tightly curling folds over the legs and base, the rounded face with a meditative expression portrayed with slightly opening hooded eyes and beatific smile set between long earlobes, framed by a parted hairline below the domed ushnisha, all surrounded by a large mandorla incised with rhythmic flaming scrolls and radiating petals around the divinity's head, and further supported on a large block plinth with a stepped base inscribed on the front with a dedication by Ren Yuanjian [?], dated to the 17th day of the twelve month in the first year of the Huangjian period (corresponding to AD 560, Northern Qi dynasty)

Acquired between the 1950s and 60s.

Matsubara Saburō, Chūgoku bukkyō chōkoku shi kenkyū/Chinese Buddhist Sculpture, Tokyo, 1966, pl. 153b.
Matsubara Saburō, Chūgoku bukkyō chōkoku shiron/Chinese Buddhist Sculpture, Tokyo, 1995, plate vol. 2, pl. 384b.

The inscription can be translated:
On the 17th day of the twelve month in the first year of the Huangjian period [corresponding to AD 560, Northern Qi dynasty] Buddhist disciple Ren Yuanjian [?] made a sculpture for the parents, and hope [all wishes] will come true.

While the overall carving of this Buddha image is linear, the figure stands out for its rounded form and the attractive depiction of the garment folds on the base. This type of decoration was more commonly used on earlier, Northern Wei period, carvings; for example, see a triad stelae with a seated Buddha in the centre, dated in accordance with AD 513, illustrated in Matsubara Saburō, Chūgoku bukkyō chōkoku shi kenkyū/Chinese Buddhist Sculpture, Tokyo, 1966, pl. 66b, with comparable garment folds.  

Compare a related stelae sold in our London rooms, 12th December 1978, lot 265, and again at Christie’s London, 10th December 1979, lot 15; and a seated figure of Buddha with similar facial features, but carved with a simple mandorla included in Matsubara Saburō, Chūgoku  bukkyō  chōkoku  shiron/Chinese Buddhist Sculpture, vol. 2, Tokyo, 1995, pl. 443c, together with another seated Buddha figure of this type dated AD 551, pl. 469b.