This elaborately sculptured Buddha is unique for Qianlong period (1735 – 1796 AD in that it attempts to imitate Tang style. Standing bronze Buddha statues were most common during Tang and earlier periods. Starting Song Dynasty, sitting bronze Buddha statues became more popular, and during Qianlong most bronze Buddha statues were in sitting style. The face of this Buddha is round that is typical for Tang Buddhist sculptures. The flowing gown is in the Gandhara style that almost ceased to exist after Tang. The back plate is magnificently sculptured with many musicians; again, such decoration existed primarily in Tang but had almost disappeared in later Buddhist sculptures. However, the elaborated Ru Yi form clouds reveal that it is Qianlong’s artwork, not earlier or later. The Qianlong imperial mark confirms this dating. From Dr. Robert I-San Lin (#5412), a senior Chinese artwork appraiser, whose grandfather was a major Chinese antique merchant in early 1900s. (Dr. Lin’s bio, in Journal of Authentication of Artworks, 2015, available). Brought to California in 1960s. H 17”, Dia. 5.9”, 3182 grams.

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