A VERY RARE EARLY-MING GILT-BRONZE STANDING FIGURE OF MAITREYAYONGLE INCISED SIX-CHARACTER MARK AND OF THE PERIOD (1403-1425)The figure is standing gracefully with the hands in abhaya and varada mudra, gestures of protection and bestowal of charity. The crisply cast face is cold-painted and highlighted with red and black pigments, the eyes looking down to provide a benevolent expression, framed by pendulous ears, the head with a pronouced usnisa and covered with tightly curled whorls, wearing a voluminous robe draped from the shoulders and falling in concentric U-shaped folds at the chest, standing barefoot on an oval lotus pedestal, incised with Daming Yongle Nianshi, 'Bestowed in the Yongle period of the Great Ming Dyansty'.6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm.) high, cloth box