TANG DYNASTY (AD 618-907)

Votive gilt-bronze figures of the Buddha shown seated upon full-blown lotus pedestals, whose petal tips evocatively push up the Buddha's billowing skirts into tiny peaks and swags, became extremely popular from the turn of the eighth century. Two similar gilt-bronze figures in the collection of the Shanghai Museum are illustrated in S. Matsubara, Chugoku bukkyo chokokushi ron (The Path of Chinese Buddhist Sculpture), vol. 3, Tang, Five Dynasties, Sung and Taoism Sculpture, Tokyo, 1995, pl. 720 A and B.

The current figure is unusual for performing abhaya mudra with the left hand, as this gesture is traditionally performed with the right hand. A gilt-bronze figure of Buddha with left hand held in abhaya mudra and right hand resting on the knee, is in the University of Michigan Museum of Art, acc. no. 1964⁄2.91.