Rare gold antique? What it’s meanings for gestures and emblem

Anyone know the history or meaning of this gold Buddha

 

the call goes out for @Any Jewelry !!

 

Ok no problems my apoligies about the posts im new to all this and am not sure how it all works

Thank you for your assistance

 

Hello and welcome Jake.
It is a little stunner, beautiful!
The photos are a bit small, could you post closeups? Also of the round symbol on his chest please.

From what I see it is the Buddha as a monk, sage and teacher, but he also seems to have a cover over his topknot which looks like an Ushnisha, a small symbol of royalty. The Buddha was born as a royal prince.
He is seated on a lotus throne, symbol of purity and enlightenment. His left hand looks like it is in the gesture of teaching. His right hand holds a monk's begging bowl and prayer beads.
The symbol on the base is the Vishvavajra. That shows that he is connected with Vajrayana Buddhism.
The Vishvavajra is one of the most powerful symbols in Vajrayana Buddhism, it stands for the four winds and the powers that created the physical unverse. It also ensures harmony between all sides and between the worldly and the spiritual.

Vajrayana Buddhism is practised in different parts of mainland Asia, the best known being the Himalayan region. It used to be practised in parts of Indonesia and the Philippines as well.
I need a bit more info to be able to say more on the possible origin of this beauty. I already replied to your convo, see you inbox top right of the page.

 

Jake, does the symbol on his robes look something like this:

 

Yes it is the top symbol an they are stamped all around his body I’m about to post you some more close ups

 

Yes there are some old mines shafts within a 100km radius but not sure if they were for gold or not

 

Thanks, closeups always help. I now see he doesn't have a begging bowl, just the prayer beads. The prayer beads in connection with a Vajrayana Buddha as a monk or sage represent crystal prayer beads, for purity and for continuity of the faith (a continuous chain).
The round symbol is the Shou symbol for longevity. It is a pre-Buddhist Chinese symbol, but it is also used in both Chinese and Himalayan Vajrayana Buddhism.

It would be interesting for you to find out if it was gold mining. With the mining connection I suspect this beauty was once owned by Chinese miners. If they were gold miners, they struck gold, and may have made this Buddha in gratitude.
From Davey's post I gather you want to sell it. I think this is of interest to several museums in Australia and possibly Asia. I am thinking of museums on local or national history, gold mining, Chinese in Australia.

 

There is a small coastal town called Mogo where there are some gold mines

 

Wonderful! Gold mining started in Mogo in 1851. Chinese were all over the Aussie gold fields, with a very sad history in Lambing Flats.

Here is something on Chinese gold miners, from the Mogo goldrush theme park:
https://www.goldrushcolony.com.au/a...y-culture-info/chinese-australian-gold-fields

https://www.goldrushcolony.com.au/a...se-australian-gold-fields/chinese-communities

https://www.goldrushcolony.com.au/a...australian-gold-fields/chinese-mining-methods

Jake, I definitely think this is the connection. This is an exciting find in more ways than one.

 

Wow, stellar info, AJ!

 

I think I am more excited about this find than Jake is. This is a real wow piece to me, and if my suspicions are right, an amazing historical background.

 

So where do I go to from here
re the history and the value of this piece

 

The Goldrush Colony in Mogo could know someone who can tell you more. This is their contact form:
https://www.goldrushcolony.com.au/contact

Will you keep us posted?

 

Yes most definitely will thank you for the information you have provided to me

Where would I turn to wanting to sell this antique dealer??

 

If you don't want to sell it to a museum, or if they are not interested, you may want to try a specialized auction instead of a dealer. Auctions attract collectors.
I don't know about Australian auction houses, I believe @Miscstuff is in Oz, maybe he knows which one to go to.