Big sculpture produced with mixed techniques: partially cast (head, hands, feet) and partially embossed (the robes). The historical Buddha Sakyamuni is represented standing (samapafa) on a single lotus flower base, with the palms of the hands facing outwards: the left performing the gesture of gift giving, varadamudra, and the right performing the gesture of reassurance, abhayamudra. He wears a long robe with wide sleeves, characterized by intricate draping and chiseled floral decors on the edges, in the style characteristic of the Qianlong period. On the peaceful face are polychrome traces, while over the hair, enriched by a blue pigment, is a double disc, probably a reference to the sun. This rare kind of representation is known as Udyana (semi-mythical region of present day’s Swat District, Pakistan) or sandalwood Buddha, because of a legendary sandalwood sculpture, now lost, which was bought in China by the ruler of Udyana. Such representation has been known in China since the 5th century and, according to Chinese travel chronicles, it appears that it was imported directly from India around the 1st century. The ghandaric influence is clear in the general appearance of the figure. Provenance: private collection Piedmont, acquired before 1960