A STANDING WOOD FIGURE OF AMIDA NYORAI Lot n° 266

A STANDING WOOD FIGURE OF AMIDA NYORAI Japan, probably Edo period (1615-1868) A standing figure of Amida Nyorai (Sanskrit: Amitabha Tathagata) in classic Heian pose, carved from a single block of wood, with traces of lacquer and gilding. The Amida wearing a fukuken'e (mantle) and kun (skirt), the shallow-carved voluminous fukuken'e descending from the shoulders and forming a series of regular curves over the abdomen, the kun with typical Y-shaped and vertical central pleats. The face delicately carved with soft-rounded features under heavy-lidded eyes and the hair arranged in small, snail-shaped spiral curls (rahotsu). The hands in the raigo-in (vitarka mudra) gesture used by Amida when descending from heaven to receive the souls of the deceased, the right hand raised and the left hand lowered, both with palm facing outward. HEIGHT 61 cm Condition: Good, heavily worn condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, age cracks, chips, losses, flaking, repairs and touchups.