China, Song Dynasty, ca. 960 to 1279 CE. A grey brick from a Chinese temple with a beautiful depiction of the Buddha standing beneath an ogee arch. The carving of the Buddha is inset into the body of the brick, in relief, and depicts him with a serene face, a large ushnisha, and wearing stylized robes. He holds his hands together over his chest and has a long implement in them that rests against one shoulder. Red pigment gives bright color to his robes, face, and the background of the archway, while the undecorated portion of the brick is an austere grey. Size: 2" L x 6.5" W x 13" H (5.1 cm x 16.5 cm x 33 cm)

During the Song Dynasty, China expanded its trade along the Silk Road and South and Central Asian Buddhist proselytizers brought many sculptures and paintings of the Buddha into the country. This depiction of the Buddha shows the blend of Chinese art styles with those influences - for example, the ogee arch the Buddha stands beneath is based on a form from India called the chaitya arch. From the mid-6th century CE onward, Chinese temples shifted from being made of wood to brick and numerous brick pagodas were built, like the famous Iron Pagoda in Kaifeng. Originally built of wood, it was struck by lightning and burned down before being rebuilt of brick in 1049 under the order of Emperor Renzong. Bricks like this one were mass produced to serve as the walls. The mold-making of bricks allowed them to have elaborate designs.

Provenance: private Orange County, California, USA collection acquired before 2000

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#121864

Light encrustation in lower profile areas. A great deal of remaining pigment on the surface.