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Rare Yuan / Early Ming Cast-Iron Buddha with Integral Mandorla, 7 Inches — Published Comparable in Sotheby’s “Art of the Buddha” (2005)
This exceptionally rare cast-iron Buddha with an integral mandorla dates to the Yuan or early Ming period and represents one of the scarce surviving examples of this distinct sculptural type. Measuring 7 inches tall by 3.5 inches wide and 2.5 inches deep, the figure is shown seated in meditation with hands in a devotional mudra, framed by a sharply arched mandorla with radiating flame-like ridges. The surface bears an ancient, naturally developed patina consistent with centuries of age, lending the piece a strong archaeological presence.
A nearly identical example—displaying the same mudra—was published in Sotheby’s Art of the Buddha, sale of September 22, 2005, page 94, underscoring the rarity and importance of this form. Another extremely close cast (item 8960 on this website) differs only by its hand gesture, suggesting the original existence of a small group or triad representing multiple aspects or moods of the Buddha.
Early Chinese cast-iron Buddhist images with intact mandorlas are scarce, and surviving matched examples are exceptionally rare. This piece stands as a powerful and important work for collectors of Yuan/Ming Buddhist metalwork and early devotional sculpture.
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