Gilded Bronze Shakyamuni Buddha on Lotus Base
You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item
When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.
- Bronze - An alloy of copper and tin, traditionally in the proportions of about 9 parts of copper to 1 part of tin.
The discovery of bronze in Western Asia in the 4th century enabled people to create metal objects which were superior to those previoulsy possible because of its strength and hardness, and it has been used throughout the world for weapons, coins, tools, statuary and other decorative items.
It is very fluid in a molten state, and its hardness, strength when set, and non-corrosive properties makes it most suitable for casting sculpture. - Gilding - Gilding is a method of ornamentation whereby a thin sheet of gold metal is applied to items made of wood, leather, ceramics, glass and silver for decorative purposes.
For furniture including mirrors, the sheet of gold is usually applied over a coating of gesso. Gesso is a mixture of plaster of Paris and gypsum mixed with water and then applied to the carved wooden frames of mirrors and picture frames as a base for applying the gold leaf. After numerous coats of gesso have been applied, allowed to dry and then sanded a coat of "bole", a usually red coloured mixture of clay and glue is brushed on and allowed to dry, after which the gold leaf is applied. Over time parts of the gilding will rub off so the base colour can be seen. In water gilding, this was generally a blue colour, while in oil gilding, the under layer was often yellow. In Victorian times, gilders frequently used red as a pigment beneath the gold leaf.
Metal was often gilded by a process known as fire gilding. Gold mixed with mercury was applied and heated, causing the mercury to evaporate, the long-term effect of which was to kill or disable the craftsman or woman from mercury poisoning. The pursuit of beauty has claimed many victims, not the least of which were the artists who made those pieces so highly sought after today.
This item has been included into following indexes:
Visually similar items
A small bronze Buddha, 20th century, seated upon a double lotus throne the contemplative Buddha with hands in bhumisparsha mudra; impressed mark of a four petal flower underside. Height 9 cm
A gilded bronze Shakyamuni, seated in dhyanasana with hands in dharmachakra mudra, clad in a diaphanous robe with hems incised with floral patterns, the base sealed and incised with double-vadjra 29 cm high
A Chinese gilt bronze statuette of Buddha, modelled seated cross-legged upon a double lotus throne, his hands in vitarka mudra (a gesture representing the discussion and transmission of the teachings). Height 15.5 cm
A gilt bronze figure of Shakyamuni Buddha, Tibeto-Chinese Qing dynasty, 18th century seated in dhyanasana on a double lotus base, the right hand lowered in bhumisparsamudra and the left in dhyanamudra wearing a loose robe draped over the left shoulder, the