Lot 1022. A rare gilt-bronze figure of Buddha, Liao dynasty (AD 907-1125); 7 5/8 in. (19.3 cm.) high. Estimate USD 250,000 - USD 350,000. Price realised USD 293,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2014

The slender figure is shown standing on two lotus socles on top of a waisted square plinth with pierced sides. His right hand is raised in vitarkamudra and he holds a scroll in his left hand. He wears layered robes that fall in crisp folds to his bare feet, and his hair is dressed in curls around a small usnisha. There are two tiny buttons for attachment of an aureole on the back.

Literature: Comprehensive Illustrated Catalogue of Chinese Buddhist Statues in Overseas Collections, vol. 7, Beijing, 2005, p. 1292.

Note: Vitarkamudra signifies offering or giving.

A similar gilt-bronze figure of Buddha standing on lotus socles on a similar plinth, with the hands held in vitarkamudra in front of the chest is in the Musée Guimet, where at one time it had mistakenly been classified as Korean, but now as Chinese (no. 06351/31). A figure of Guanyin standing on lotus socles and an almost identical plinth, was sold at Christie's New York, 1 June 1990, lot 56. Another standing boddhisattva belonging to this group, from the Nitta Group Collection, was included in the National Palace Museum exhibition, The Crucible of Compassion and Wisdom, Taipei, 1987, p. 195, no. 99.

A stylistically similar, but smaller, Liao dynasty figure of Buddha standing on a less elaborate plinth was sold at Christie's New York, 19 September 2006, lot 129.

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, New York, 18 - 19 September 2014