Object Details
Catalogue Note
An antique Himalayan bronze Buddha seated in bhumisparsha mudra on an unusually elaborate openwork base incorporating elephants and a central figure. The 34 cm sculpture is likely from Nepal or the broader Himalayan region and dates approximately to the 19th or early 20th century.
Openwork elephant base
The richly pierced pedestal is the defining feature of the sculpture. Elephants and scrolling architectural elements create a compact altar-like structure beneath the seated Buddha, giving the piece a more elaborate profile than a conventional lotus-base image.
Iconography
The right hand reaches toward the earth in bhumisparsha mudra, referring to the moment the Buddha called the earth to witness his enlightenment. The left hand rests in the lap in meditation.
Bronze and surface
The figure is traditionally hollow cast and hand finished. The bronze shows warm olive-brown patina, darker deposits and local green and reddish oxidation. The underside retains old casting-core material and an irregular internal surface.
Attribution and condition
The sculptural language suggests Nepal or the broader Himalayan region, but a more specific workshop attribution is not asserted without provenance or comparative evidence. Historic condition with patina, oxidation, surface wear and casting irregularities consistent with age.
Details
- Origin: Probably Nepal / broader Himalayan region
- Date: 19th–early 20th century
- Material: Bronze
- Mudra: Bhumisparsha
- Dimensions: H 34 × W 23 cm
- Weight: approx. 4 kg
- SKU: 684
