Ca. 386–534 AD. Northern Wei Dynasty. A rectangular ceramic brick featuring a seated Buddha with a plump face, elegantly curved almond-shaped eyes beneath sharply defined and arched brows, a well-formed nose and full lips recessed into fleshy cheeks, drooping ears, the hair and ushnisha (the knot of hair on the top of the head) carved with curls. The modelling of the facial features is articulated with vivid realism, the serene expression of the Buddha endowed with the uttermost spirituality. The leaf-shaped halo behind Buddha is painted in a deep blue hue, which matches the long flowing garment of the Buddha, completed by a red upper garment. The Buddha's right hand is in the abhaya mudra, i.e. upright with the palm facing outward, all fingers are pointing up towards the heavens. In Buddhism and Hinduism, this specific 'mudra' (“seal,” “mark,” or “gesture”) symbolises wisdom, calmness, and fearlessness. His left hand, with the palm facing outwards and fingers pointing down, is in the 'varada mudra' (favourable mudra), which indicates, charity, compassion and sincerity. The Wei dynasty was the longest-lived and most powerful of the northern Chinese dynasties that existed before the reunification of China under the Sui (581– 618 AD) and Tang (618–907 AD) dynasties. The Wei rulers were great patrons of Buddhism. They fostered Buddhism as a state religion, although the dynasty took particular care to control the religious hierarchy, trying to avoid any church-state conflicts. Provenance: Property of a North London gentleman; previously acquire on the UK/European art market in the 1980s. Size: L:330mm / W:170mm ; 4.4kg