BUDDHA: A Buddha Who Listens, Gilded and Lacquered Bronze, 10 " Tall, Unusual

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A Buddha Who Listens
Gilded and Lacquered Bronze
10 InchesTall, Unusual

This is a highly intriguing figure.  I think he is very old, but I

cannot date him for sure. But it would not be farfetched to say

that he is pre-1800

He is incredibly well cast and finished with a great deal of

interesting details.

And he is solid cast.


Below is a photo of him with a geranium floret to give some

idea of his proportions:
 

 

Down below, after the list of photos is more discussion and

explanation.

Please Scroll Down:

(NB: the photo lights have exaggerated the color of the

lacquer, especially the traditional blue of his hair.)

The Bottom with the Double Vajra-

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The story of this fellow is somewhat surprising.

 He was born in western Tibet to a prosperous family.

When his father died, his family was deprived of their wealth

by his aunt and uncle.

At his mother's request, he left home and studied sorcery to

take revenge, killing many people.

Later he felt sorrow and regret about his killing deeds.

And so he became a student of a famous yogi who put him

through such a long list of tests and trials that it took him

years to accomplish them all.

But he listened very carefully to his yogi and therefore he was

eventually able to satisfy his teacher. 

Later on he tried for many years and finally attained

enlightenment. Thereafter he lived as a fully realized yogi,

and eventually even forgave his aunt, who caused his family's

misfortune.


So, in a way, this figure is a cautionary tale about the

importance of listening. 

The importance of shutting down the almost endless dialogue

with the self and opening up to what others and the world

have to tell us. 


He is 10 inches tall, but he makes up in majesty what he

lacks in height. The care and attention to the modeling,

the casting and the finishing is uncommonly exquisite.

I am far from being an expert in these things, but there must

be something special in the composition of the lacquer that

allows it to resist deterioration.

Or, it maybe that the lacquer was applied rather

heavily; whereas, the gold was much lighter.

A folio of gold leaf by itself can be destroyed by a simple

breath.

It is very thin.


Among the many beautiful details in the figure is the

treatment of his face.

His eyes are set with white and black stone or shell, which 

can intensify communion with him.

 

The bottom is closed and sealed with a variant of the double

vajra, probably at his blessing or consecration.
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The Vajra is a weapon used as a ritual object to symbolize

both the properties of a diamond (indestructibility) and a

thunderbolt (irresistible force); the Sanskrit word has both

of these meanings.


This really is an  outstanding figure and the photos give an

excellent idea of his beauty and superb quality


If you should have any questions, please don't hesitate to

contact me.

And thanks for looking.

(And please remeber that in some of the photos the blue

lacquer is much too bright.)

A MESSAGE TO MY CLIENTS

I have been diagnosed with B-cell Lymphoma /

ChronicLymphocytic Leukemia which is not good. Treatable,

but incurable and always fatal.

But it could be worse.

I have been a little sidetracked by required obedience to

doctors. But I will continue to deaccession items from my

collections as much and as fast as possible. 

I am also still disabled with a right arm and hand, formerly

completely paralyzed and broken, now just extremely

disobedient and weak. They will not do what I desire them to

do with the speed and accuracy I require.

When I get one-handed packing down perfectly, I will add it

to my resume.