Page 24 - Chinese works of art and paintings, March 19 Bonhams

8028
A RARE GRAY LIMESTONE FIGURE OF MAITREYA
Northern Wei dynasty Based on the posture, this figure is believed to represent Maitreya,
The slender figure seated with right leg crossed over the left knee, the buddha of the future. Maitreya is believed to return to earth
with one finger of the right hand pensively touching the cheek, the left to preach the teachings of the Buddha after a period of great
hand resting on the crossed leg and held in karanamudra, dressed turmoil where the Buddha’s teachings have been forgotten. He is
in long flowing robes draping the lower body in soft pleats, the Shakyamuni’s successor and his return heralds a period of great
narrow face with contemplative expression surmounted by the large peace.
ushnisha, mounted on wood stand.
12 1/4in (31cm) high The pose, first conceived in India and later transmitted to China,
represents Maitreya in deep contemplation, while at the same
$40,000 - 60,000 time, because one foot is on the ground, he is ready to stand up
and take his place as the buddha of the future. The karanamudra
北魏 石灰岩雕彌勒菩薩坐像 subdues negativity, dispelling impure thoughts and other obstacles to
enlightenment.
Provenance
Collection of Hidenari Terasaki (1900-1951), by descent The Northern Wei dynasty was a period of political turbulence and
intense social and cultural change. During such tumultuous times a
messianic figure such as Maitreya held great appeal and Maitreya
was one of the most popular bodhisattva during this early phase of
Chinese Buddhism.

This figure is similar to other figures of Maitreya from the Longmen
caves dated to the Northern Wei dynasty. For other examples from
the Guyang Cave see Osvald Siren, Chinese Sculptures in the Van
de Heydt Collection, Rietberg Museum, Zurich 1957, pls. 11 and 12;
and Longmen liusan diaoxiangji, 1993, pls.8-13. See a related figure
sold by Eskenazi, Ancient Chinese Sculpture, June-July, 1978, no. 8;
one from the Alsdorf collection acquired from Alice Boney, published
Eskenazi, Ancient Chinese Sculpture from the Alsdorf collection and
others, June 1990, no. 1; another formerly in the collection of the
Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York, sold at Sotheby’s, New
York, 20 March 2007, lot 503; and another Maitreya from the the
collection of Robert Hatfield Ellsworth, sold Christie’s New York,
17 March 2015 lot 14.

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