Dancer sculpture from the Phoenix Hall of Byōdōin | Workshop of Jōchō (d. 1057) | 11th century (copy presumably 1960)

Byōdōin Temple in Uji, near Kyoto, is one of Japan's most magnificent ancient wooden structures – an image of which still adorns the 10-yen coin. Byōdōin was built in the 10th century; it was originally the residence of a lord from the Fujiwara clan. It wasn't until the 11th century that the building was converted into a temple.

The central section of the complex is the Phoenix Hall, as its roof is crowned by two phoenix-like birds. Inside the hall stands a monumental figure of Amida Nyorai, created by the sculptor Jōchō, the greatest sculptor of the Heian period.

His workshop also produced 52 celestial musicians and dancers in Buddha's retinue, all carved from Japanese cypress wood (hinoki). The 52 figures were arranged in two U-shaped groups around the Buddha statue.

This "Dancer on the Clouds," number 20, belongs to the group of 26 figures located on the south side of the hall. Her enchantingly flowing S-shaped movement, the pleasing proportions of her torso and limbs, and her attentively focused face are imbued with a harmony rarely achieved again in Japanese art.

The copy appears to be perfectly accurate, except for the wood grain, and therefore conveys the splendor of this artwork without any loss of detail. The material is a synthetic resin, which is very durable.

Such copies are no longer produced today; they are themselves antiques and rarely found in the art market.