A JAPANESE LACQUERED WOOD FIGURE OF AMIDA BUDDHA MOMOYAMA/EDO PERIOD Standing

A JAPANESE LACQUERED WOOD FIGURE OF AMIDA BUDDHA

MOMOYAMA/EDO PERIOD

Standing, wearing long flowing robes loosely draped across his torso, the eyes inlaid in glass and downcast, his hands in a mudra representing one of the nine levels of rebirth, kubon, with a glass or crystal bead amongst his knotted hair and another representing the urna on his forehead, with remnants of gilt lacquer, raised on a modern plinth, 49.5cm.

Provenance: a Spanish private collection, Madrid, purchased from Barling of Mount Street, London, on 27th June 1991.

Amida Buddha is represented performing the kubon mudra when welcoming the souls of the departed as they reach the Great Western Paradise. Sculptures and paintings depicting this subject became popular during the 12th century and were placed near the beds of dying devotees to bring them comfort.