A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF SEATED AMITAYUS ON A THRONE WITH MANDORLA

Description:

China, Qianlong period, c. 1770
H. 21,3 cm
The crowned figure seated in dhyanasana on a rectangular plinth draped in front with a long cloth with a flower head at its center, with hands in dhyanamudra holding a bowl as attribute. The figure is framed by a flaming mandorla, separately cast and attached, the interior of the plinth an inscription in Suzhou numerals.
Old Bavarian private collection, assembled before 2000 - The bowl in his hands above the feet repl., minor wear to gilding
This example of a seated Amitayus, the Buddha of Eternal Life and Eternal Light (Ch. Wuliangshoufo) was one of the 10,000 commissioned by the Qianlong emperor in celebrate of his sixtieth birthday, as well as the birthday of the Empress Dowager. A similar figure complete with the vase attribute, was exhibited and published in Chang Foundation, Taipei, Buddhist Images in Gilt Metal, Taipei, 1993, no.21.