Lot 112. A fine and large bronze figure of Vairocana, 16th century. Estimate £30,000 - 50,000. Sold for £37,500 (€44,332). Photo: Bonhams.

Provenance: a European private collection

Note: Considered the 'Primordial' Buddha, Vairocana was also deemed the embodiment of the Buddhist concept of Emptiness, sunyata and Encompassing Wisdom, one of the qualities of the Five Dhyani Buddhas, represented on the pointed crown. The uttrabodhi mudra displayed by the figure represents Supreme Enlightenment, a quality possessed by one of the Five Dhyani Buddhas, of which Vairocana was one, the other four being Aksobhya, Ratnasambhava, Amitayus and Amoghasiddhi. The complete group, with Vairocana at the centre, is cast on the pointed crown of the present figure.

Closely-related figures of Vairocana, Ming dynasty, were sold at Sotheby's New York, 16 March 2016, lot 368; and Christie's Hong Kong, 1 June 2011, lot 3770.

A large bronze figure of Vairocana, Ming dynasty. Sold 237,500 USD at Sotheby's New York, 16 March 2016, lot 368. Photo: Sotheby's

A magnificent large Ming gilt-bronze figure of Vairocana, Ming dynasty, 16th century. Price realised HKD 11,860,000 (USD 1,531,645) at Christie's Hong Kong, 1 June 2011, lot 3770. © Christie's Images Ltd 2011

Bonhams. FINE CHINESE ART, 11 May 2017, 11:00 BST, LONDON, NEW BOND STREET