When the Buddha felt his end was near he told his grieving followers that it is in the very nature of things that they must pass away. ‘We must be separated from all that is near and dear to us ... The wise man has a right conception of the world. He will conclude that all component things will be dissolved again; but the Truth will always remain.’ He continued: ‘I am not the first Buddha to come upon earth; nor shall I be the last. In due time, another Buddha will arise in this world, a Supremely Enlightened One, endowed with wisdom, in conduct auspicious, knowing the universe, an incomparable leader, a master of devas and men. He will reveal to you the same Eternal Truths; he will proclaim a pure and religious life. ... He will be known as Maitreya, which means kindness.’

Buddhists believe that those people who at present are doing meritorious deeds by leading a religious life will have a chance to be reborn as human beings in the time of Maitreya, ‘The Future Buddha’ and will attain the same spiritual enlightenment as Gautama Buddha. In this way they will find salvation through the guidance of Buddha’s Teaching, a hope of the future for everybody.

The cultural heritage of Asia spans more than 2000 years and occupies a vastly significant place in the history of the world’s art. The sculptures in this catalogue reflect the fascination of these ancient Asian cultures. Originally intended as a means by which a state spiritual elevation might be attained, they are also often superb works of art. Beautifully executed in bronze, stone and wood, they come from private collections and have been chosen for their expressive quality and level of artistic taste. All of the works have an Art Loss Register Certificate and are accompanied by extensive written documentation which provides a guarantee of their origin, condition and authenticity. These inspired works of art are worthy representatives of the Asia’s cultural heritage.

Marcel Nies 2009

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