Thai Seated Buddha Statuette

A rectangular ceramic brick with central recess displaying Buddha in high-relief seated cross-legged on a lotus flower base beneath a canopy, his hands held in the varada mudra of charity and compassion. 5.6 kg, 35.5 x 17cm



Acquired 1970-1990s. Ex Hong Kong collection. From a private West Country collection.

A gilt-bronze figure (after the Gandharan style, or that of the neighbouring Uddiyana region), of Shakyamuni Buddha modelled with his hands clasped together in dhyana mudra and seated in the dhyanasana posture on a throne flanked by two roaring lions; robes with U-shaped folds in the Mathuran style and the head with a prominent ushnisha. 95 grams, 70 mm

Fine condition.

Acquired for the ‘Buckingham Collection’ by the late Nik Douglas (1944-2012), renowned author, curator and Asian art expert; the collection formed from the early 1960s to early 1970s; displayed at the major exhibition ‘The Buddha Image: Out of Uddiyana’, Tibet House, 22 West 15th Street, New York, 16 September-20 October 2010, extended to 16 November and again to 7 January 2011; where the collection of one hundred pieces was publicly valued at US$ 15M; this piece was scheduled to be included in an exhibition titled ‘On the Silk Route; Birth of The Buddha’, to be held in London from November 2012, but sadly his death prevented this. Accompanied by copies of several press releases and articles for the exhibition, including Artnet News, This Week in New York, Huffpost, Buddhist Art News, and copies of the relevant London and Tibet House exhibition catalogue pages. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.10907-168639.

Gandhara was a principal gateway through which Buddhism spread to China. Academic research conducted after the death of Nik Douglas (above) explains that Gandharan sculpture has been found in neighbouring regions, such as in Uddiyana. Sculpture from the Gandharan and Uddiyana regions has similar characteristics and as a result has often remained undifferentiated. As a result of this recent research however, it is becoming more feasible to identify distinctions between the sculpture of these different regions.

A ceramic horse and (possibly female) rider figure modelled in the round, the animal posed standing on a rectangular base, its stocky neck arched and head held facing down, tail resting between hindlegs, with painted detailing to the head, mane and harness and wearing a saddle cloth and saddle; the rider wearing a full-length robe, arms and hands relaxed by the sides, poised to grip the horse's reins near to the saddle, stylised facial detailing and hair tied in a top knot. 1.67 kg, 32 cm high



Acquired on the UK art market, circa 2001. UK private collection.