Seated Buddha

CHINA; Northern Wei dynasty

The statue was obtained from a market in Lhasa, Tibet, and depicts a Buddha seated in a half lotus position upon a flat base supported on a four-legged pedestal. The figure’s hair is sculpted in whorls, and builds to a large usnisa. The monastic robe is draped across the left shoulder and brought around to cover the other shoulder. The right hand is lifted in the abhaya (fearlessness) mudra while the left hand holds a corner of the robe.
Two sides of the pedestal are incised with four figures making offering of flowers. The remaining two sides are engraved with an inscription stating that the sculpture was commissioned in 506 by a devotee named Gao Axing.