Chinese Bronze Belt Hook

A Han Dynasty style sinuous gilt bronze lionesque beast, modelled in a dynamic coiled posture on a circular base from which fingers of water rise in response to the animal's muscular movements, its slender body with a dense covering of scales, its long and scaly tail curled upwards and its roaring mouth ajar, revealing a row of squared teeth and a protruding tongue, its eyes bulbous and large ears pricked. 367 grams, 66 mm

Fine condition.

Acquired 1970s. West Country, UK, collection.

A large gilt bronze Shakyamuni Buddha figure seated cross-legged in virasana on a semi-circular lotus flower dais, right hand in bhumisparsha mudra, the left resting on his lap, wearing a samghati adorned with floral motifs, his face with a meditative expression and with downcast eyes below arched eyebrows, aquiline nose, gentle smile, elongated earlobes, the hair in tight curls surmounted by a flame. 99.5 kg, 95 cm high



French collection, 1960s-early 2000s. From an important Paris gallery, France. with Ogotai (?) Auctions, Paris, France, 22 January 2016, lot 2. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11714-199350.

The historical Buddha, Shakyamuni Buddha, (born Prince Siddhartha Gautama) was the founder of the Buddhist religion; he lived and taught in 6th century India. Born to a royal or aristocratic family of the Shakya kingdom, at age 29 he learned of the deep suffering experience by the people of his land, causing him to relinquish his title and palace home and after six years of study, self-sacrifice and meditation, became an enlightened Buddha. Here, Buddha is shown seated in a yogic meditative posture, his right hand gesturing towards the Earth Goddess at the moment prior to his enlightenment. He displays many of the lakshanas, or auspicious marks of Buddhahood- the extended earlobes remind the viewer of his former princely status; three rings around the neck; urna formed from a curl of hair.

An unglazed ceramic rounded vase with flared rim and 'leather' texture to the body. 1.04 kg, 18.5 cm high



Acquired 1970s-1990s. Ex West Country collection.