Page 31 - Bonhams Indian and Himalayan Art September 2013

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A gilt copper alloy figure of Buddha
Qianlong period, 1736-1796
Brilliantly gilded and finely cast, standing on
a lotus pedestal, adorned in an outer robe
draped in symmetrical raised folds with incised
collar and hems, right hand in abhaya mudra
and left in varada mudra, his blissful facial
expression with steadfast eyes and a serene
smile, flanked by pendulous earlobes, the hair
bound in high chignon.
6 7/8 in. (17.4 cm) high
$15,000 - 20,000

This type of Buddha image wearing a heavy,
but diaphanous, robe falling in abstracted
concentric folds is commonly referred to as the
‘Udayana type’ after the infamous legend of the
first image of Buddha made during Buddha’s
lifetime. Recounted by the Chinese pilgrim
Xuan Zang around 664 CE, King Udayana of
Kaushambi in Swat Valley missed Buddha so
much while the latter had ascended to heaven
to preach to his mother that he commissioned
a sandalwood image to comfort him. Another
legend speaks of Kumarayama carrying a true
copy of this Udayana Buddha on his back to the
Kingdom of Kucha in Central Asia from where
it was later relocated to Xi’an in 401 CE. There
it is thought to have inspired even more copies
which made their way as far as Nara, Japan in
the late 6th century. In the 14th century, Yuan
Emperor Tàidìng (1321-8 CE) commissioned
a stone ‘Udayana Buddha’ which is located in
Jiufeng Temple, Nanjing Province and became
the prototype for many others.

An example of a Udayana type figure of
Dipankara Buddha was sold at Bonhams, Hong
Kong, 26 May 2013, lot 357. Further examples
are held in the Harvard Art Museums (1956.202)
and the Guimet Museum (see von Schroeder,
Indo-Tibetan Bronzes, Hong Kong, 2008, pl.
158F pp.552-3).

Provenance:
Private American Collection

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