Ca. 1800-1900 AD. An attractive gilt bronze Shakyamuni is seated in padmasana, atop a lotus base, the figure exudes a sense of calm and serenity. The left hand is in Bhumisparsa Mudra, a gesture that represents the moment when the Buddha touched the earth to call it to witness his enlightenment. The right hand holds an alms bowl, a symbol of the Buddha's renunciation of material possessions. The broad face, with its serene and downcast expression, is flanked by long earlobes beneath the tight whorls of hair. The figure is dressed in loosely draped, decorated robes that add to the overall aesthetic beauty of the piece. Shakyamuni, also known as Gautama Buddha, was the founder of Buddhism. He was born in ancient India and achieved enlightenment while meditating under a bodhi tree. He spent the rest of his life teaching others about the path to enlightenment and the end of suffering.Size: L:180mm / W:120mm ; 930gProvenance: Property of a West London gentleman; previously in a collection formed on the UK/International art market in the 1990s.