Seated Buddha

CHINA; Northern Wei dynasty

The Buddha is seated on a lion throne with hands in dhyana (meditation) mudra. The figure’s hair and usnisa have a swirl at the center, and a small circular urna is visible on the forehead. The nose is broader than the smiling mouth. The monastic robe covers both shoulders of the Buddha and falls over the crossed legs to spread in several layers over the edge of the throne. The varied folds are deeply carved in a regular ridged pattern. A lotus nimbus is behind the head and enclosed in a flaming mandorla. The inner section of the mandorla contains flower motifs interspersed with seated Buddhas. There is a Mathura influence in the way the statue has been sculpted.