Qigxin: Brahmins

CHINA, Xinjiang, Bayingolin

Both figures are seated with their arms extended, although it is hard to determine for what purpose due to the missing hands. Both figures wear flower necklaces and armlets stamped from molds of the same pattern. The larger statue represents a brahmin with a long curly beard and hair that is swept into a topknot. The figure wears a long-sleeved tunic and a piece of animal skin covers the lower body. The posture suggests that the brahmin might be in conversation. The smaller statue wears a loincloth over which trails the end of a stole from the right. The figure’s beard is pointed and hair braided. Different molds were used for the faces. The eyes are smaller, the nose flatter, and the brows are furrowed in the second figure.