This exceptional sculpture is a Chinese Marble Torso of Buddha, dating to the Sui Dynasty (581–618 AD). Artistic & Stylistic Features • Linear Geometric Drapery: The monastic robe (kasaya) is rendered in highly stylized, concentric U-shaped folds. Rather than being fully rounded or undercut, these pleats are carved as crisp, relatively flat, ribbon-like bands. This geometric precision is an iconic hallmark of the late 6th century, bridging Northern Qi traditions with Sui imperial refinement. • Pillar-like Form: The torso retains a structured, planar quality that prioritizes a column-like spiritual presence over anatomical realism. This architectural rigidity gives the figure a sense of timeless, meditative stability. • International Influences: The way the textile tightly hugs the contours of the body reflects the Udayana style—a Chinese interpretation of Indian Gupta "wet drapery" techniques that arrived via the Silk Road and flourished during the Sui reunification of China. Iconography & Material • Posture & Mudras: Though the hands are lost to time, the raised right arm originally displayed the Abhaya Mudra (gesture of fearlessness), while the left arm was lowered in the Varada Mudra (gesture of compassion). • Material Quality: Carved from a dense white marble, the fragment measures 23 cm in height (including its custom presentation base) and 16cm without stand. The stone exhibits beautiful, authentic signs of antiquity, including deep surface weathering, natural softening of the carved edges, and localized soil staining from centuries of burial. Provenance - Bennett & Dykes Uk auction 2026, previously Hong Kong private collection formed before 2000s.