Lot 3627. A bronze votive figure of Maitreya, Northern Wei dynasty (386-534); 10.6 cm, 4 1/8  in. Estimate 80,000 — 100,000 HKD (10,186 - 12,733 USD). Lot Sold 93,750 HKD (11,937 USD). Courtesy Sotheby's.

cast seated on a raised rectangular plinth, the figure with the right arm raised and the left lowered in abhayavarada, clad in long robes falling into cascading folds around the legs, the elongated face flanked by a pair of pendulous ears, detailed with downcast eyes, an arched nose and a gentle smile below hair piled up in a chignon.

Note: This finely cast Northern Wei votive bronze figure depicts Maitreya, the future Buddha, seated with legs pendent in the so-called 'Western' pose with hands in abhayavaradamudras. Its iconography is closely related to contemporaneous sculptures in stone.

Compare the iconography on a carved stone figure of Maitreya, excavated from the Longmen site, illustrated in Zhongguo meishu quanji: Diaosu bian [Complete series on Chinese art: Sculpture section], vol. 11: Longmen shiku diaoke [Sculptures of the Longmen Caves], Beijing, 1988, fig. 49. See also a limestone figure of Maitreya from the collection of Mr and Mrs Malcolm McPherson, sold at Christie's New York, 17th September 2008, lot 573.

From the collection of Mr and Mrs Malcolm McPherson. A rare grey limestone figure of Maitreya, Northern Wei dynasty, early 6th century, Longmen caves, Henan province; 13½ in. (34.2 cm.) high. Sold for 50,000 USD at Christie's New York, 17th September 2008, lot 573. © Christie's Image Ltd 2008