David U.

Mearto specialist

Hello John! Thank you for choosing Mearto for your online appraisal. Considering these images, this item is: A Bodhisattva statue on what it looks like upon inspection, brass, probably made on the 20th century. The Sanskrit term Bodhisattva (bodhi = wisdom, sattva = being) means "those seeking enlightenment." In Japan, Bodhisattva is rendered as "Bosatsu." The Bodhisattva will certainly attain Buddhahood, but for a time, they delay Buddha status, and instead remain on Earth in various guises (manifestations, emanations, reincarnations) to help each of us achieve salvation. All Bodhisattva are motivated by compassion, by the desire to "benefit others" -- indeed, the highest aspiration of the Bodhisattva is to save all sentient beings. The term has other meanings, but the above Mahayana concept is the most widely known. In contrast, followers of Theravada Buddhism revere only the Historical Buddha, and do not pay homage to the numerous Buddha and Bodhisattva venerated by Mahayana followers. While images of the Buddha are generally unadorned, statues of the Bodhisattva typically appear with princely clothes and jewelry -- as many as 13 ornaments, including crowns, earrings, necklaces, armlets, bracelets, anklets and cranes, as this statue. The Bodhisattva can sometimes be recognized by the objects they carry or the creatures they ride. They share only one of the 32 physical attributes of the Buddha -- the elongated earlobes. Good condition. Signed on the bottom. A fair market estimation would be between 100 to 300 USD. This estimate is based on actual recent past recorded auction sales of comparable items. Retail "asking prices" can be higher and may vary.