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Buddha - Imperial Chinese Bronze – Early Ming Dynasty

Name: Buddha - Imperial Chinese Bronze – Early Ming Dynasty
Brand: 1stBuddha
SKU: 174
Price: 680000 EUR
Availability: InStock

AvailabilityIn stock

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SKU

174

Imperial Chinese Fire-Gilt Bronze Buddha – Yongle Period (1402–1424)

This Buddha has a face I have not come across before. The hands are so finely crafted and thin, you feel it is the work of an artist. With almost 9 kilos of weight and 46 cm in height, it stands out in every way. Another treasure, and again with a touch of mystery.

At first sight the style could put you in Thailand, but on the back is the true signature of China. Under UV light you can still see small pieces of gold in the folds. With the microscope I found grains of dirt and old deposits, the kind of details you cannot fake. The base is sealed, exactly as it should be. On the reverse the reign mark is cast deep, not scratched later.

I have spent days with this piece. Every time I go back, I see something new. Six hundred years old, untouched, and still full of presence. For me, that is enough proof.

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Valuation Report

This bronze Buddha was examined through underside inspection, microscopy and UV-based analysis. The statue has a fully sealed base, multi-century natural patina development (cuprite, tenorite, malachite and mineral salts) and micro-traces of original fire gilding preserved in deep corrosion pockets. The casting behaviour confirms early Chinese lost-wax technique.

The Yongle-period inscription is cast integrally with the body and displays patina fully consistent with the surrounding bronze. The head shape, hair structure, ear profile, minimal robe modelling and the lotus-based ushnisha flame all support placement within early Ming Chinese Buddhist production.

Material: fire-gilded bronze alloy
Technique: lost-wax casting, sealed underside, original gilding traces
Height: approx. 46 cm
Period: early Ming dynasty (Yongle period, 1402–1424)
Region: Chinese Buddhist tradition
Condition: naturally aged surface, intact structure, no modern restoration

1stbuddha Retail Valuation (taxation): EUR 750,000

View Technical Documentation (HCommons)

Buddha - Imperial Chinese Bronze – Early Ming Dynasty

In stock

Description

Imperial Chinese Bronze Buddha – Yongle Period, Early Ming Dynasty (1402–1424)

This Buddha weighs close to 9 kilos and stands 46 cm high. At first sight it looks calm and simple, but the closer you look, the more you see. The face has a softness I have not seen often, the hands are thin and carefully shaped, and the ushnisha rises high above the head – all details you expect from Yongle court bronzes.

The surface still keeps small traces of gold. Under UV light you notice tiny patches hidden in folds, and with the microscope there are mineral deposits and old dirt that could never be faked. The base is sealed, and on the back the six-character Yongle mark is cast deep into the bronze, not scratched later. That was one of the first things I checked.

Material: Fire-gilt bronze
Height: 46 cm
Weight: 8.9 kg
Technique: Hollow lost-wax casting, sealed base
Imperial mark: Deep cast six-character Yongle reign mark

I spent days with this piece. Every time I went back to it, something new turned up. It is six centuries old and still untouched. For me, that is proof enough.

Watch the full video presentation on 1stbuddha.