Object Details
Catalogue Note
Tibetan-Himalayan region | 17th–18th century | Copper alloy | H 56 × W 37 cm | 14.3 kg
This substantial Shakyamuni Buddha belongs to the Tibetan-Himalayan sculptural tradition of the 17th–18th century. At 56 cm high and 14.3 kg, it has the scale and visual authority of a serious devotional or temple sculpture rather than a small domestic bronze.
The Buddha sits on a richly modelled lotus base. The robe is finished with hand-worked floral and linear ornament, while the warm golden-brown surface shows extensive wear and darker areas of old patination. The raised right hand is preserved in a formal Buddhist gesture; because the precise mudra attribution is not completely unambiguous from the surviving form, it is deliberately not over-specified here.
Himalayan bronze workmanship
The figure and lotus base were cast as separate components and joined as part of the original construction. This method is entirely compatible with large Himalayan metal sculpture, where separately cast sections allowed greater control over complex forms and weight.
Examination under magnification and 365 nm ultraviolet light revealed old copper oxidation, mineral deposits and residues associated with the internal casting core. These observations support traditional manufacture and an aged surface, but are treated as technical evidence rather than as a stand-alone guarantee of date.
Key details
- Subject: Shakyamuni Buddha
- Cultural region: Tibetan-Himalayan
- Period: 17th–18th century
- Material: Copper alloy / bronze-brass alloy
- Construction: Traditionally cast in separate joined sections
- Surface: Warm aged gilt-toned surface with natural wear and patina
- Dimensions: H 56 × W 37 cm
- Weight: 14.3 kg
Condition
The sculpture shows age-related surface wear, rubbed high points, oxidation, deposits and variation in the historic finish. The robe and lotus base retain substantial hand-finished detail. No attempt has been made to make the surface look artificially uniform; its material history remains visible and is documented in the photographs.
An imposing example for a collection centred on antique Tibetan Buddha statues, Himalayan bronze sculpture or large Shakyamuni images.
