Beschreibung:

A BRONZE FIGURE OF ASCETIC SHAKYAMUNI BUDDHA16th century
Heavily cast and darkly patinated as the ascetic figure crouched on a flat base cast with the lower part of his robe, his hair in tightly knotted loops, his eyes downcast between large long ears emblematic of his formal wealth as a prince, his long fingers clasping his raised left knee, his rib cage heavily defined, wood stand. 14.5cm (5 3/4in) high. (2).Footnotes十六世紀 銅達摩坐像
Provenance: Ralph M. Chait Galleries, New York, 5 August 2003
A European private collection
來源：Ralph M. Chait Galleries，紐約，2003年8月5日
歐洲私人收藏
The present figure depicts Shakyamuni Buddha practicing extreme asceticism in the wilderness during his search for enlightenment. During this time, he realised the futility of such self-punishment and eventually attained enlightenment through meditation, balance and moderation.
This representation of the Buddha became especially popular in China during the Yuan dynasty and continued into the Ming and Qing periods. These representations were associated with the Chan school of Buddhism, which encouraged more individualistic paths to enlightenment.
Compare with a related bronze figure of Shakyamuni Buddha, Ming dynasty, illustrated by H.Munsterberg, Chinese Buddhist Bronzes, Tokyo, 1967, pl.122. Another related bronze figure of Buddha Shakyamuni, Ming dynasty, is illustrated in Gilt-bronze Buddhist Sculptures, Beijing, 1998, pl.17.
A related bronze figure of Shakyamuni Buddha, Yuan/Ming dynasty, was sold at Sotheby's New York, 20 September 2022, lot 130.