Northern India Terracotta Buddha seated in the Dharmachakra Mudra. - 13 cm

Elegant glazed terracotta Buddhist statuette depicting the Buddha seated in the teaching gesture, most likely the dharmachakra mudra. The work stylistically belongs to Northern India, in a late Gupta to post-Gupta horizon, 5th–6th century AD, probably the 6th century. The full face with lowered eyes, the broad circular halo, and especially the highly graphic treatment of the monastic robe with regular folds find good parallels in the Gupta sculptural tradition of the Ganges valley. The statuette is particularly interesting for its genuinely three-dimensional conception. Unlike a simple votive plaque with a flat reverse, the back of the figure is modeled: the shoulders, arms, and pelvis extend in volume while the folds of the garment are also carefully indicated on the reverse. The halo, more restrained at the back, also retains a convex shape. The surface presents a beautiful rosy tone characteristic of terracotta, with uniform wear, ancient deposits in the hollows, and a few small losses around the halo. These elements give the whole an especially attractive archaeological presence, while the face, hands, and overall silhouette remain perfectly legible. Provenance: former private Belgian collection, assembled between 1979 and 2009, then passed on by succession. Dimensions excluding the base: 13 × 8.5 × 3.5 cm. Dimensions with a modern base: 13.5 × 10.5 × 6 cm. Weight: 597 g. Displayed on a discreet modern metal base. No thermoluminescence testing has been performed, given the value level of the work. The attribution rests on visual, technical, and stylistic examination as well as on comparison with institutional reference corpora. video link. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/w8wia1mnhmsx3r77obl2b/AKWnbXzzyysJon191PBP6c0?rlkey=49u44t6xqifyj6t37sl63hjaw&dl=0

Estimate:$1,012.08

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