A RARE GILT COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF A STANDING MAITREYA, NEPAL, 14TH CENTURYFinely cast standing on a circular lotus base with tiered beaded rims, his left hand raised in front of the chest and holding a lotus steming to full bloom at the shoulder topped by a kundika, his right pendent and similarly holding a lotus stem. Clad in a sheer dhoti incised with foliate designs and flaring at the sides, richly adorned with beaded and floral jewelry with inlays of turquoise, lapis lazuli, and coral.Provenance: Jacques How Asian Art, Brussels, Belgium. A noted German private collection, acquired from the above. The base with an old label from Jacques How Asian Art. Jacques How-Choong has been collecting and dealing in Chinese and Southeast Asian art for many years, specializing in particular in Himalayan art and ritual objects, rare early Buddhist art, focusing on Dali Kingdom sculpture, as well as archaic works of art. Several museums, institutions, dealers, and private collectors are among his clientele. He is a distinguished member of Asian Art in Brussels and also exhibits annually at Parcours des Mondes in Paris.Condition: Good condition with some wear, particularly to gilt, minuscule nicks, minor dents, light scratches. The inlays possibly replaced at different times over many centuries. The figure leaning. The base sealed. The back with a small inlaid bronze plaque of rectangular shape for ritual purpose.Weight: 244.3 gDimensions: Height 11.2 cmWith an old fitted wood stand, possibly zitan, cleverly serving topensate the leaning posture of the figure. (2)His serene face with heavy-lidded almond-shaped eyes below raised arched brows centered by a rectangular urna, further with a broad nose and full lips forming a subtle smile, the hair piled in a tall chignon topped with a jewel behind the foliate tiara.The presence of the kundika vase crowning the resplendent lotus flower by his left shoulder identifies this idealized young prince as the future Buddha Maitreya. Although equally vital to popular Buddhist practice, standing Maitreya images are relatively rare byparison to moremon bronzes of Avalokiteshvara Padmapani. This most elegant form of a standing bodhisattva maintained its popularity in Nepal until at least the 16th century, being applied to various deities including Manjushri.Auction resultparison:Type: RelatedAuction: Christie’s New York, 13 September 2016, lot 201Price: USD 23,750 or approx.EUR 28,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A gilt bronze figure of a standing tara, Nepal, 14th centuryExpert remark:pare the related pose, circular lotus base, and inlaid gemstones. Note the size (13.3 cm).十四世紀尼泊爾罕見彌勒佛鎏金銅像彌勒佛立於圓形蓮座上，邊緣有連珠紋，左手舉於胸前，手持一枝盛開於肩部的蓮花，上有一個淨瓶，右手垂下，同樣手持一朵蓮花。身穿飾有葉狀圖案並在兩側張開的法衣，鑲嵌有綠松石、青金石和珊瑚。面容平靜安詳，雙眼微垂，眉毛之間有白毫，闊鼻，嘴唇豐滿，頭髮盤成一個高高的髮髻，在葉狀頭飾後面鑲嵌著一顆寶石。