Swat Valley, a seated buddha revisited

8th-9th century, Swat Valley, Crowned Buddha, copper alloy with silver inlay, 16 cm, private collection, Arts d’Asie lot 198, 14th June 2024, Sotheby’s (Paris)

We saw this figure in 2017, identified as Ratnasambhava on Christie’s  because of the position of his right hand and ‘the pair of lions in his throne, which are his mount’. In actual fact, Ratnasambhava’s mount is the horse – the lion is Vairocana’s or Shakyamuni’s. If we look closely at the picture (using the very useful close-up application on HAR ) there is no gem in his right hand as would be expected from Ratnasambhava. Instead, he has a stippled motif on the palm of his hands (and on the sole of his feet) which is usually understood as a lotus (but perhaps a simplified wheel in this case?). Also, he holds a piece of his robe in his left hand, like Shakyamuni. Apart from the two lions, there is a small animal at the front of the throne, described by Sotheby’s as ‘an antelope with curved horns’ but more likely a ram since its horns are coiled under its ears. 

Tibet, The Crowned Buddha (15)

13th-14th century, Tibet, Crowned Buddha Shakyamuni, brass, 11,6 cm, photo: courtesy of Ulrich von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet Volume Two, Visual Dharma Publications, Hong Kong, p. 1156 pl. 305A, at the gTsug lha khang in the sMin grol gling (Mindroling) monastery (Tibet).

Unlike the five direction buddhas in their sambhogakaya form, the crowned Buddha always wears a monastic garment, and Tibetan portable sculptures of him rarely include any jewellery.

Circa 14th century, Tibet, Crowned Buddha Shakyamuni, brass, 26,4 cm, photo as before, p. 1155 pl. 304C , at the Palkhor Chode monastic complex in Gyantse (Tibet).

15th century, Tibet, The Crowned Buddha, gilt bronze, 10,7 cm, private collection, Auction 814 China I, lot 138, 12th June 2023,  Nagel

16th-17th century, East(ern) Tibet, Crowned Buddha Calling the Earth to Witness, 27,3 cm, inventory nº AS42-1979 at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne (Australia).

Kashmir, buddhas

9th century, Kashmir, Buddha Shakyamuni, bronze, 17,5 cm, The Moke Mokotoff Collection lot 304, 13th September 2023, Christie’s

Dressed in a garment that covers both shoulders, the historical buddha raises his right hand to dispel fear and holds a piece of fabric in the other, closer to his body than almost identical statues from Kashmir seen previously, all with the same type of pedestal.

9th century, Kashmir, Northern India, Maitreya (or Shakyamuni?), metal, private collection, item 11481 on Himalayan Art Resources

The hand gesture is usually Maitreya’s but the appearance is that of a crowned buddha (monastic garment, crown, some jewellery but not the full set) seated on a lion throne with both legs pendent. We saw two similar brass figures from the Potala collection, cautiously labelled ‘Buddha Maitreya or Shakyamuni (?)’ by Ulrich von Schroeder in his extraordinary publication ‘Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet, Volume One’ (p.120-121, fig. 25A and 25B). See also ‘Images of the Crowned Buddha Along the Silk Road: Iconography and Ideology’ by Rebecca Twist . As the face on this copper alloy image has not been painted with cold gold and pigments, we can see that the eyes and urna are inlaid with silver.

Pala India, seated buddhas (4)

9th century, Northeastern India, Bihar, double-sided buddha stele, sandstone, 72 cm, private collection, Asian Art Auction A185AS lot 433, 7th June 2018, Koller

One side of the sculpture depicts Shakyamuni preaching inside a niche with Kirtimukha at the top.

The other side is too damaged to ascertain whether the hand gesture is the same but we can see that his double-lotus seat is supported by a lotus stem and scrolling leaves.

10th-11th century, Eastern India, Maravijaya Buddha, stone, 29,8 cm, private collection, Dharma and Tantra lot 177, 18th September 2023, Sotheby’s

Maravijaya refers to the historical buddha calling the goddess Earth to witness his victory over the demon Mara with his right hand while the other is cupped in the gesture of meditation. On this example, he is flanked by Avalokiteshvara holding an open lotus (to his right) and Maitreya holding a ritual flask by the neck (on the other side). The goddess emerges between two columns at the centre of the lion throne. We can see a seated buddha on one side of the nimbus, which is topped with leaves from the bodhi tree. There was probably another figure on the missing portion.

11th century, Northeastern India, Buddha Shakyamuni, bronze, 6,4 cm, private collection, Asian Art lot 1141, 30th November 2023, Sotheby’s

11th-12th century, India, The Crowned Buddha, black chlorite, 34 cm, Asian Art Auction A552AS lot 337, 27th March 2010, Koller

Flanked by stupas, Shakyamuni in his crowned buddha form is preaching under the bodhi tree. A wheel (dharmacakra) decorates the front of his throne. He wears a monastic garment that leaves the right arm bare. The armband on the other arm shows through the thin fabric.

Nepal, Crowned Buddhas (7)

15th century, Nepal, Buddha Shakyamuni, gilt copper alloy with turquoise and lapis lazuli, 14,5 cm, private collection, Dharma and Tantra lot 115, 18th September 2023, Sotheby’s

In his crowned buddha form, Shakyamuni wears a monastic garment that covers most of his chest but leaves his right arm bare; he is adorned with earrings, and sometimes a necklace and armbands. When seated, he usually makes the Earth-touching gesture with his right hand and the gesture of meditation with the other.

14th century, Nepal, The Crowned Buddha, gilt copper alloy with stone inlay, 20 cm, private collection, photo on mutualart

16th century, Nepal, labelled ‘Amitabha/Amitayus’, gilt copper, 11,5 cm, photo on Lost Arts of Nepal, National Gallery of Canada (nowhere to be found on their website).

Being the aspect of Amitabha with a bodhisattva appearance, Amitayus normally has a bare torso – except for a sash, shawl, or scarf – and wears the full set of princely jewellery, often including shin ornaments and finger rings in Nepal (Malla Period). The vacant slanted eyes are unusual.

15th century, Nepal, Shakyamuni (labelled ‘Akshobhya’), gilt copper, 21,3 cm, private collection, photo on Lost Arts of Nepal

We have seen various sculptures of the crowned Buddha with a vajra sceptre before him symbolising the place where he reached enlightenment (vajrasana).

Circa 17th century, Nepal, The Crowned Buddha, gilt bronze with stone inlay, 20,8 cm, private collection, Asian Art Auction 809 lot 76, 7th July 2022, Nagel.

Kashmir, seated buddhas (14)

7th century, Northwestern India, Kashmir schools, Buddha Shakyamuni, brass, 36,5 cm, photo: courtesy of Ulrich von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet Volume One, Visual Dharma Publications, Hong Kong, p. 91 pl. 13B, at the Ya phyi lha khang of the Bri gung mthil monastery (Drigung Thil, Tibet).

The Kashmiri lion throne typically includes a yaksha at the centre. Shakyamuni holds an alms bowl and a piece of his garment in his left hand. His right hand makes a gesture as if holding something between the forefinger and the thumb.

7th-8th century, Kashmir, Crowned Buddha Maitreya or Shakyamuni, brass, 17,7 cm, photo as before (p. 121 pl. 25B), Potala Collection, inventory nº 478 at the Sa gsum lha khang, Lhasa (Tibet).

Such figures seated with both legs pendent are usually identified as Maitreya, but when he wears a crown he usually has a bare chest and wears a scarf and the full set of princely jewellery seen on bodhisattvas. Shakyamuni, on the other hand, wears a monastic garment that covers most of his chest, and in Gandhara and Kashmir he often wears earrings, a necklace, and armbands but no anklets or bracelets. The above is wearing bracelets but no anklets.

11th-12th century, Kashmir (or Western Tibet?), Vajrasattva, (labelled ‘Padmasambhava’), bronze, 14 cm, private collection, Decorative Art lot 171, 22nd October 2021, photo on Drouot

We saw an almost identical statue of Vajrasattva (reproduced below for comparison), also attributed to Kashmir, yet the shape of the crown, with huge side bows with split ends, the low forehead, and the overall facial features differ quite a lot from Kashmiri standards. The distinctive decoration on the halo, the style of the lotus seat, and the stepped throne bring to mind a couple of buddhas seen on Sotheby’s and liveauctioneers, attributed to ‘Ladakh or Western Tibet’ and ‘Kashmir or Tibet respectively.

Circa 10th century Kashmir, Vajrasattva, bronze, private collection, photo by Nagel Auction, 2017.

Tibet, the crowned Buddha (14)

14th century, Nepalese School in Tibet, Crowned Buddha, gilt copper alloy with turquoise inlay, cold gold, and pigments, 20 cm, private collection, Asian Art A203AS lot 116, 29th November 2022, Koller.

A classic early Malla-Period style image of the Crowned Buddha, dressed in a monastic garment with a richly incised hem, his crown decorated with hard stones, rosettes, and ribbons knotted behind his ears.

14th-15th century, Tibet, Buddha, gilt copper alloy, 19,8 cm, Indian and Himalayan Art lot 135, 21st March 2023, Sotheby’s.

When seated, he sometimes has a vajra sceptre before him on the lotus base. The above has lotus-bud ear ornaments. The finger joints delineated on the outside and the broad rice grain design along the border of his robe are normally associated with the Khasa Malla kingdom (Western Tibet/Western Nepal).

14th-15th century, Tibet, Crowned Buddha, gilt copper alloy with turquoise inlay, 17,8 cm, The Claude de Marteau Collection Part III, lot 34, Bonhams (Paris).

Pala India, Crowned Buddha (7)

For some unknown reason, a few readers have not been able to see the caption under each photograph for the past few weeks. The photo credits and location for the following are: photo by Sunil Dongol, 2010, courtesy of Ulrich von Schroeder, Dharmadeva Caitya, Chabahil (Nepal).

Pala period, Northeastern India, Crowned Buddha, (copper alloy ?), 8,6 cm, photo by Sunil Dongol, 2010, courtesy of Ulrich von Schroeder, Dharmadeva Caitya, Chabahil (Nepal).

The historical buddha in his crowned form, dressed in a transparent robe and adorned with a tall tripartite crown, drop-shaped earrings, a necklace with large pendants, similar to various 11th century works from Bihar seen previously.

Pala period, Northeastern India, Crowned Buddha, (copper alloy ?) 9,4 cm, same as before.

(Pala period, Northeastern India ?), Crowned Buddha, (copper alloy?), photo by Sunil Dongol, 2010, courtesy of Ulrich von Schroeder, Dharmadeva Caitya, Chabahil (Nepal).

Pala India, Crowned Buddha (6)

11th century, Northeastern India, Crowned Buddha Shakyamuni, gilt copper with turquoise, cold gold, pigment, 31,5 cm, photo: courtesy of Ulrich von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet Volume One, p. 265 pl. 84C, at the Lima Lhakhang of the Mindrolling monastery (Tibet).

Seated on a classic Pala-period lotus base, with a larger lotus at the centre to support the main image and two smaller ones for his attendants (now missing), the historical buddha touches Earth with his right and makes the gesture of meditation in the other. He is adorned with a tall five-leaf crown attached with a profusion of flowing ribbons, large earrings, a matching necklace and a shorter, plain one, and floral bracelets. He is flanked by stupas and there is a small vajra sceptre before him on the seat.

11th century, Northeastern India, Shakyamuni (labelled ‘Askhobhya’), gilt copper alloy with silver and cold inlay (or cold gold added later?), from the Kurkihar hoard, photo by Daderot on wikimedia , at the Fitchburg Art Museum (USA).

The long garment that covers the left arm entirely and the vajra sceptre placed before him identify this figure as the historical buddha (Akshobhya in his sambhogakaya appearance would have a bare chest, and the attribute would be in one of his hands or at the front of the base).