Sino-Tibetan Gilt Buddha Figure

A piriform ceramic jar with high shoulder, short neck and everted rim, two downwards-facing lug handles to the equator, painted geometric frieze to the upper body composed of hatched roundels, parallel lines, scallops and pellets. 2.7 kg, 33 cm high



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

A ceramic horse and female rider figure, modelled in the round on a rhomboidal base; the horse portrayed with semi-naturalistic anatomical detailing, medium-length mane, short tail dressed with a ribbon, its head angled slightly downwards and ears pricked forwards; the female rider modelled seated in a saddle, wearing a knee-length robe and boots, arms held in front of her body, hands held in a gripping position to accept reins (absent), her hair dressed in a top knot, stylised facial features; extensive remains of polychrome pigmentation. 5.1 kg, 45 cm high



Acquired in the 1990s. From a North Yorkshire private collection, UK. Accompanied by an original thermoluminescence analysis report no.C122h21 from Oxford Authentication.

In Tang art, poetry and painting the horse was exalted. The delight taken in portraying horses became an end in itself. Women were made to mount them, according to the Tang conception, so that the two can be considered together, introducing in China a fashion from Kotan.

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.