Buddha and Attendants

CHINA; Northern Wei dynasty

The main figure is of the Buddha with an elongated head and a pronounced smile. An oval lotus nimbus is behind the figure’s head with seated Buddhas incised upon the outer rim. A loose monastic robe drapes the main figure and falls below the embellished pedestal where he is seated in half lotus position. The damaged right hand is in abhaya (fearlessness) mudra and the left hand is in varada (wish-granting) mudra. A slender Bodhisattva is located on either side, standing on a lotus pedestal with hands clasped in reverence. Both standing figures have a petal shaped nimbus behind their heads and wear a long flowing garment. The trio is backed by a broken mandorla. Engraved on the base is an inscription dating the statue to 511.
Tiered reliefs are located on the polished back of the carving. The top register has a seated Buddha with figures making offerings on either side. Two registers of seated Buddhas in individual niches are engraved in the center, with a large lotus blossom filling the bottom register.