A FINE GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF AMITAYUS China, Kangxi period, early 18th ct. H. 27,3 cm Seated elegantly on a lotus-base with both hands resting on his lap in dhyanamudra originally supporting the kalasha, wearing various garments including a dhoti tied around the waist with a ribbon knotted to the front, both border and dhoti itself incised with scrolling tendrils and flowers, scarf draped around his shoulders, its streamers encircling his arms and one of its finials falling down the lotus-base, elaborately ornamented with jewellery amongst which a fine pearled stringed necklace set with linked medallions inlaid with turquoise and coral beads, various similarly inlaid looped pearled strings and swaying tassels attached to his belt, his face displaying a serene expression with downcast eyes below arched eyebrows running into the aquiline nose-bridge, raised urna at this forehead, smiling lips, elongated earlobes with large pierced ear-ornaments, his hairdo is combed in a chignon with some tresses falling down his shoulders and upper arms, topped with a floralized ratna, secured with a tiara consisting of five leafs emerging from lotuses placed on the horizontal head-band, each leaf cast as a pierced flower set with semi-precious stones, the with gems studded head-band decorated with a pair of pattras and floating ribbons towards the ends, unsealed. Old European private collection, assembled prior to 1930 This fine cast gilt-bronze figure of Amitayus, the Buddha of Infinite Life, encapsulates the distinctive Imperial style created at the Qing court in the early 18th century. This complex synthesis of influences from China, Tibet and Mongolia can be seen in the legacy of Buddhist sculptures created for the temples of the Qing emperors’ summer retreat at Chengde and at the Yonghegong in Beijing and other Buddhist centres. Very minor wear, one band at the base lost