COLLECTIBLES

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"From the compassionate deities of Tibet to the wrathful, monstrous figures that give us a fiery prod in life, Buddhas are very personal items for meditation," says Roberta Weir, an art historian at the Buddha Museum, which provides extensive, well-illustrated descriptions of numerous pieces on its website, www.buddhamuseum.com. "Buddhas have a force, for they were carved [many thousands of years ago] as acts of devotion. The Tibetans called a deity into their sculptures, then put a seal on them. There are many types. The most popular are the Chinese Quan Yin images [or Kannon, to the Japanese, meaning the Goddess of Compassion]. In Asian tradition, having such a statue assists you in fulfilling your needs and desires."

Chinese Buddhist statues often have detailed notations, signatures or other markings that approximate where they were made. Weir feels these markings are "a very important way to authenticate Chinese pieces," and a natural deterrent to counterfeiters who are now flooding the market with expert reproductions. There is no foolproof scientific way to affirm a Buddha's authenticity, as only a dealer's experienced eye can determine the condition of these bronze or stone figures and judge such criteria as tools used, style, age or wear. Yet understanding that few collectors are conversant with Chinese characters, she urges neophytes to visit museums to become familiar with exemplary work. (The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has an extensive collection of Buddha sculptures from several countries.)