Extraordinary gilt bronze Amitabha Buddha. Seated Shakyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, the Enlightened One, Sage of the Shakya Clan, seated in the Vajra posture which resembles meditation, and wisdom. Formal in appearance, the Buddha gazes forward with partially closed eyes and the blue-black hair on the head is piled in a tuft on top with a single gold ornament adorning the crown. Between the eyebrows is a white dot (urna) and adorning the neck are three curved horizontal lines. The earlobes are long and pierced. With the right arm bare the right hand is extended across the knee in the earth touching gesture (mudra). The left performs the gesture (mudra) of meditation. Across the left shoulder is patchwork robes. A similar lower garment is tied at the waist with a cloth belt. A Buddhist term referring to a seated position where the feet are placed sole up on the thigh of the opposite leg; right over left. In the West this posture is almost universally referred to as the lotus posture. The legs are folded in vajra posture upon a double lotus throne. The underside revealed the separation of the Buddha and the throne. Sets upon a multi leveled tall pedestal, the pedestal throne are supported by two lions and two elephants, auspicious carved and sic archaic mystical beast. The small figure between them with a vase is the Earth goddess. Emerging and surrounded by the demountable rays of aura-chakra nimbus and mandoria light emanate from the pedestal throne, the body and the head is surrounded by aureole, with elaborate reliefs of scrolling tendrils surrounding the body, they depict the Buddha about to reach enlightenment. This sculpture appears to be the perfect example, by any artistic tradition, both for technical precision and exquisite form. The proportions of the body are exact and the overall presence and beauty make this sculpture a precious artistic treasure. Bronze is in beautiful condition with minimal marring of the surface. The underside with incised Quadra-petal flori-form visvavajra mark and centralized DaiJi Dimensions: Height 35-1/4" Width: 17-3/8" PROVENANCE: From New Orleans private collector, acquired from JOHN F. GEPKE, Antique Furniture, 113 Royal ST, New Orleans, LA. LOT NOTES: Shakyamuni, the Historical Buddha, was born in the 6th century B.C. in Lumbini (present day Nepal), achieved enlightenment at the age of thirty five, and spent the remaining forty five years of his life preaching his doctrine of salvation to others. Shakyamuni refers to the last of the “seven Buddhas” (saptatathagata) as defined in the Dharma-sa?graha. Shakyamuni in Sanskrit, Shakyamuni in Pali. The founder of Buddhism. He was born as the Prince of Sakyans, and was called Siddhartha Gautama. At the age of 35, he attained the supreme Enlightenment and became the Buddha and was the called Shakyamuni. The word means "capability and kindness". Shakyamuni :-One of the Thirty-five buddhas of confession, according to the Triskhandhadharmasutra (‘Sutra of the Three Heaps’), which is a Mahayana sutra. The sutra describes the practice of purifying the transgressions of vows (especially the Bodhisattva-vows), by making prostrations to these Buddhas. Shakyamuni Buddha, the historical Buddha, is not the first and only buddha. The buddha who will follow Shakyamuni in a future age and renew the dharma is Maitreya. Beyond these, one finds indications in the literature of thirteen further buddhas, of which the most important is Dipamkara, whose disciple Shakyamuni was in his previous existence as the ascetic Sumedha. The stories of these legendary buddhas are contained in the Buddhavamsa, a work from the Khuddakanikaya.