A COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF AMITAYUS, NEPAL, C. 14TH-15TH CENTURY OR EARLIERRemarkably solid cast with a total weight of almost 2 kilograms. The Lord of the Western Paradise seated in dhayanasana on a lotus base with neatly incised petals atop a footed and pierced pedestal, holding the amrita vase in his lap. Dressed in a sanghati with the folds elegantly arranged below the ankles and wearing a shawl drawn across the body. The face with heavy-lidded eyes below finely incised brows, adorned in beaded jewelry, the hair in a tall chignon behind a foliate tiara, and backed by a flaming mandorla.Provenance: From a French private collection. A noted Hungarian collector, acquired from the above.Condition: Good condition with significant old wear, scattered nicks and dents, light surface scratches, small cracks to the mandorla, and expected casting flaws. Remnants of blue pigment in the hair and tiny remnants of gilt on the left ear and crown. Fine, naturally grown, copper-red patina overall.Weight: 1,868 gDimensions: Height 18.2 cmExpert’s note: The present sculpture appears to be an ancient copy of an even older Nepalese bronze, with several distinct features from works of the 9th and 10th century, including the incised lotus petals, the foliate crown, the beaded jewelry, the shawl and garment. See for example Hong Kong, 7 October 2019, lot 805, and Sotheby’s New York, 22 September 2020, lot 322. While it seems rather difficult to accurately date such a work, it was clearly made not much later than the 15th century, as evidenced by the heavy weight of the cast, the characteristic old wear including the many small nicks and dents, as well as the finely incised yet sparse detail work, which does not appear in this distinct setting on later works.Auction resultparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: Christie’s New York, 19 March 2013, lot 340Price: USD 52,500 or approx.EUR 65,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A bronze figure of Amitayus, Nepal, circa 13th centuryExpert remark:pare the closely related expression, the jewelry with especially similar earrings and crown, and the distinct patina color of the copper alloy. Note that the figure itself is larger (18.7 cm) than the present lot if you discount the base and mandorla.Auction resultparison:Type: RelatedAuction: Christie’s Paris, 15 December 2010, lot 321Price: EUR 63,400 or approx.EUR 83,000 adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A rare gilt-copper figure of Manjushri, Nepal, 14th/15th centuryExpert remark: Note the closely related size (18.5 cm)十四至十五世紀或更早尼泊爾銅合金阿彌陀佛坐像非常堅固的鑄像，總重近2公斤。阿彌陀佛結跏趺坐在蓮花座上，髮髻高聳，頭戴葉狀頭飾，眉毛細長，雙眼為垂，身披僧衣，衣紋褶皺優雅，飾有瓔珞。背後有火焰光背。