A popular representation of the Buddha, with lowered eyelids, smiling mouth and long earlobes reaching to his shoulders. The Buddha sits in the ‘earth-touching gesture’ (‘Bhumisparsa Mudra') on a high, angular and three-stepped decorated plinth. Carved from hard wood in a single piece. The high throne socle with semicircular cross-section is reduced in size towards the top by means of three steps, and is covered with running bands of geometric leaf and flower motifs. With a wide sash hanging down at the front and back. The entire sculpture is accentuated with brown and black lacquer, and gilded with gold leaf applications. The remains of this are clearly visible. The hairstyle of the Buddha consists of small, black cone-shaped points, which were glued into black lacquer. At the top of the head of the Buddha, the squared, pointed ‘flame’ (‘Ushnisha’) also shows traces of earlier gilding. The seat surface and both of the retracted intermediate steps of the throne socle are painted in red lacquer. The visibly old sculpture displays minor, age-related damage: a few glued-on points of the hairstyle are missing, minor old breaks at the back and on the lowest edge, gold and colour is rubbed off in places, as well as slight weathering traces below. H: 59 cm, W: 27 cm. 19th century or earlier. (ME)

Provenance: Austrian Private Collection.