CHINESE GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF AMITAYUS,Incised Qianlong nine character mark, cyclically dated Xinsi year (1761). The figure seated in vajrasana on a tapering rectangular throne with drapery adorned with a rosette cascading on the front, the hands in dhyana mudra holding an ambrosia flask, wearing a dhoti, a foliate diadem and jewelry on chest, arms, and ankles, the nimbus chased with flames, the base incised with Da Qing Qianlong xinsi nian jing zoo, "Respectfully made in the xinsi year of the Qianlong reign of the Great Qing Dynasty". 铜鎏金无量寿佛像，《大清乾隆辛巳年敬造》款，1761年 An identical figure of Amitayus is illustrated by van Schroeder, "Indo-Tibetan Bronzes", pl. 1588; and a figure from the Chang Foundation, with a Xinsi date, is illustrated in "Buddhist Images in Gilt Metal", no 21.
NOTE: For an identical figure see Christie's, Hong Kong, The Imperial Sale, April 30, 2001, lot 596. - 7 5/8 in. high. Estimate $3,000-5,000
PROVENANCE: Estate of Ambassador and Mrs. William H.G. FitzGerald, Washington, DC, by descent from Ignaz Petschek and Nikodem Caro, Austro-Hungarian Empire.
