549 - 577 AD. Northern Qi Dynasty. Cream-coloured stone torso of a standing Buddha, without hands or head which would probably have originally been in precious metals. The torso stands upright, wears a light, billowing robe draped from his right shoulder and knotted around the navel. The folds of the robe had been elegantly moulded to create a sense of motion. One arm is slightly raised above the other. Comparable pieces are known in the Royal Ontario Museum, see Homage to Heaven, Homage to Earth, 1992, p.163, pl.92 and in the Eskenzi exhibtion (Sculpture and ornament in early Chinese art, London, 11 June-13 July 1996, no. 31). A similar item was recently sold at Christies €101,575, see https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/a-chinese-stone-torso-of-buddha-northern-4285175-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=4285175 Excellent condition; on a custom stand.Size: L:900mm / W:320mm (w/o stand); 78kg. Provenance: From an old Sumerset collection of Asian Art formed in the 1980s/1990s.