Estimated value: €450 – €650. This antique bronze Buddha statue depicts the Buddha in the Abhaya mudra, the gesture of protection, reassurance, and inner strength. The statue is hollow-cast from thin-walled bronze and features remnants of old fire gilding combined with layers of red pigment or lacquer, a traditional finish common among Chinese Buddhist and Sino-Buddhist statues from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The underside has been manually opened and shows clear signs of prolonged natural aging, including irregular raised edges, multilayer oxidation, and mineral deposits. Microscopic examination reveals no signs of modern machining; the hole is old and consistent with historical use. The patina has developed naturally and aligns technically and visually with the rest of the object. With its compact size, this type of statue was suitable for home altars or personal devotion and constitutes an authentic example of Asian Buddhist bronze art from around 1900, preserved in its original, untouched state.
