MING DYNASTY (1368-1644)

The inscription may be translated as "Sixteenth day of spring, ninth year of the Zhengtong reign of the Great Ming". It also mentions the names of three families, "Sun, Liu and Jin". This sculpture would originally have been gilded and traces of the gilding can be seen in the crevices of the lotus base. A gilt-bronze figure of Buddha with a lengthy inscription to the rear of the base corresponding to the cyclical year date 1437 of the Zhengtong period was sold at Christie's New York, 19 Septmeber 2006, lot 133 and a gilt-bronze sculpture of Akshobya inscribed and dated 1439 was sold at Sotheby's Paris, 10 December 2019, lot 18.