A BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA, CENTRAL JAVA, SHAILENDRA DYNASTY, 9TH CENTURY

拍品描述

A BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA, CENTRAL JAVA, SHAILENDRA DYNASTY, 9TH CENTURY Finely cast standing in samabhanga, the right hand raised in abhaya mudra and the left in karana mudra, clutching the hem of his robe falling from the forearm. The slender body is clad in an uttarasanga draped over the left shoulder and culminating in a fishtail pleat. The serene face with downcast eyes beneath arched brows, a raised teardrop-form urna, full lips, and long pendulous earlobes, the hair arranged in tight curls around the smooth lotus-bud-form ushnisha. Dimensions: Height 42.5 cm (excl. tang), 47.5 cm (incl. tang) Expert’s note: The present bronze belongs to the distinctive corpus of standing Buddha images produced in mainland Southeast Asia between the 7th and 9th centuries, when sculptors were transforming inherited Indian models into increasingly independent regional forms. Particularly characteristic is the disposition of the hands before the torso. The use of the teaching gesture, vitarkamudra, with both hands is a remarkable innovation associated especially with Mon-Dvaravati and related early Southeast Asian sculpture. Unlike Indian images, where vitarkamudra is ordinarily confined to the right hand, Buddhas from this period may raise both hands in exposition, a configuration that became one of the most recognizable iconographic features of the region. This double teaching gesture is otherwise virtually unknown in the Buddhist world. Equally characteristic of this group is the absence of a rigid schema in the treatment of the Buddha’s hair and ushnisha. Surviving bronzes from the region display considerable variation, with snail-shell curls combined with conical, domed, raised, or more bulbous cranial protuberances. See a bronze standing figure of the Buddha, Thailand, dated to the 8th century, 48 cm high, in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, accession number EA2013.59; and a pre-Angkorian bronze figure of Buddha, dated to the 7th-8th century, in the National Museum of Cambodia, accession number NMC.2853. The Shailendra family emerged as a significant ruling dynasty in Indonesia during the eighth and ninth centuries, primarily associated with the establishment and promotion of Buddhism in Central Java. Scholarly research highlights their sudden appearance in historical records around 778, despite ambiguities surrounding their origins and the exact location of their kingdom. Early inscriptions in Sanskrit indicate that the Shailendras were influential in Buddhist architectural development, with notable temples, such as the renowned Borobudur, symbolizing their artistic and religious dedication. The relationship of the Shailendras with neighboring kingdoms, particularly the maritime kingdom of Srivijaya, remains a subject of scholarly debate, further complicating the understanding of their political reach and influence. Evidence also points to a potential local evolution of the Shailendras, suggesting they might have converted from Hinduism to Buddhism over time. The family’s contributions to Buddhist art and architecture not only shaped the cultural landscape of Java but also facilitated the growth of Buddhism as a significant religious force in the region. Literature comparison: Compare a related bronze figure of Buddha Shakyamuni, dated to the Central Javanese period, 9th century, 19.5 cm high, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object number 1987.142.19. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s New York, 15 March 2017, lot 244 Price: USD 68,750 or approx. EUR 81,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the similar pose, facial features, expression, and robe. Note the identical size (42.5 cm) and different culture.

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