Gilt-bronze Seated Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva

Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva is known to relieve people of foolishness; this small, gilt-bronze statue depicts him sitting on a lotus pedestal. He wears a crown that is magnificently decorated with flower design and various jewels, with a large usnisa on top of his head. A Buddhist bottle is carved in the middle front of the crown, and the Bodhisattva holds a scripture in his right hand. He has a small face compared to the body and a calm smile, with the refined shape giving an impression of balance. The body is also very resilient, and the chest is expressed in a very voluminous way. Note, however, that the waist and belly are so slender that it is impossible to distinguish them. The robe, which naturally hangs down, is expressed with a short, jacket-like scarf on the back, and the skirt raised up to the chest ties into a belt by forming pleats in the front. What makes it special is that another belt is bound in order to tie the drooping skirt, with large, magnificent bead decorations put on the entire body. The pedestal is carved with three layers of lotus leaves, which have a tiered edge. Considering all the characteristics such as the look of the Bodhisattva, slim waist, pleats, belt, bead decorations all over the body, and lotus design, it is estimated to have been made between the end of the 14th century and early 15th century.