An Early Pala Black Basalt Figure of Buddha, Bihar, India, circa 11th century, seated in padmasana on a lotus on raised lion throne, his hands in bhumisparsa and dhyana mudra, flanked by small figures of Amitayus and Aksobhya(), 22cm highProvenance: Formerly by repute in the collection from the deceased estate of a Bristol Doctor and by repute in his family for many decades before his death in 2018. This Buddha image, in a style which was hugely influential in the development of Buddhist art in the neighbouring lands of Burma and Tibet, is in a closely related style to that seen in a larger example in the Victoria and Albert Museum (IM 112-1916), found near Patna