Lot 395. A gilt-wood figure of the seated Buddha, Late Ming dynasty, 16th-17th century; 16 in. (40.6 cm.) high. Estimate USD 12,000 - USD 15,000. Price realised USD 15,000. © Christie's Image Ltd 2008.

Well carved seated in dhyanasana, wearing layered robes falling in crisp graceful folds around the body, the face with gentle, contemplative expression, with a gilded filet worn over the hair which is painted blue and falls in curls from the tonsured top of the head, applied overall in red and gold lacquer with painted details.

Note: Compare a larger bearded figure of Manjusri, with arms raised in similar position as the present figure, but holding a ruyi scepter, and clothed in very similar fashion, in the Chongshan Temple, Taiyuan, Shanxi province, illustrated in Buddhist Sculpture of Shanxi Province, Beijing, 1991, pl. 82 and back cover.