A FINE LACQUERED AND GILDED WOOD FIGURE OF BUDDH AMIDA Japan, Muromachi period H. 53 cm Carved and assembled from cypress wood in yosegi zukuri technique and modeled as the Amitabha Buddha standing. Both hands in raigo-in, the hair arranged in small, snail-shaped spiral curls (rahotsu), the robe open at the torso and falling in pleats, the eyes and both urna of glass. Modern stand of black lacquer. From a European private collection, formerly from an American private collection, acquired before 1980 This statue of Amida (Sanskrit Amitabha Buddha), the Buddha of the Western Paradise, performs the gesture of teaching (vitarka mudra) with both hands. In East Asia, these gestures signify Amida's welcoming descent from heaven(raigo) to greet the soul of a faithful devotee at death. Images of his descent to earth illustrate the nineteenth of forty-eight vows made by Amida in a previous life, in which he promises to appear at the moment of death to all beings who devoutly desire rebirth in his paradise. Painted and sculpted versions of this theme first became popularized in Japan during the 12th century and were placed near the deathbed of a devotee so that he or she could see it. Compare with a closely related statue at Christie’s New York, Japanese and Korean Art, 19 March 2019, lot 288 Very minor rest., very minor damages due to age