A HIGHLY IMPORTANT GREY MARBLE TORSO OF BUDDHA SHAKYAMUNI

Description:

China, Northern Qi/Sui dynasty, 6th/7th c.
126 x 60 x 27 cm
The finely sculpted torso of Buddha Shakyamuni is standing in samabhanga with his body slightly leaning back, the right lower arm originally set into the present hole of the upper arm, most likely showing the abhayamudra, the left arm is stretched downwards with the hand holding the seam of his monastic garment which is clinging tightly to his body revealing the body beneath and consisting of an underskirt reaching down along his lower legs and a wide sleeved mantle covering the body up to his neck, draped over both shoulders before falling elegantly down in rhythmically lines of large oval and parallel curves continuing to the hem forming a lozenge-shape and a section is pulled backwards over his left shoulder, the reverse with rectangular hole for attachment against the temple wall.
From a Belgian private collection, acquired at Zen Gallery, Merchtem, on 10 September 2005 - Wear, partially minor restorations