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16th Century Thai Ayutthaya Gilt Bronze Buddha browse these categories for related items... All Items: Southeast Asian: Sculpture: Bronze: Pre 1700: item #689374 Please refer to our stock #1039 when inquiring.
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Details: A finely cast and deeply satisfying image of a 16th century Ayutthaya seated bronze Buddha. One of the most interesting aspects of this piece is the fact that so much of the original gilding and lacquer still remain creating an object with layers and layers of history. Buddha is seated in Dhyanasana with his elegant right hand in bhumisparsha mudra while the left hand rests delicately on his lap in dhyana mudra. He is wearing a plain sanghati covering one of his broad powerful shoulders and his plump full figure. Buddha’s eyes are inset with the original mother of pearl, enhancing a regal meditative face with arching eyebrows, Indic nose above full lips and a plump mango stone shaped chin. His hair and usnisha covered in tightly curled buds of hair and his ears elongated from wearing heavy jewelry in his youth. The Ayutthaya bronze casters of this period were heavily influenced by the art of Sukhothai which had already gone into decline in the previous century. This is most evident in this piece through the plumpness of the face and body, the broad powerful shoulders, the curved delicate hands, the slightly hook nose and high arched eyebrows along with the style of the base. The Sukhothai period of bronze casting was arguable the pinnacle of Thai Buddhist art, with the subsequent U-Thong C and early Ayutthaya casters trying to replicate its beauty. The representation of Buddha performing the Bhumisparsha mudra is without doubt the most prolific in South East Asian Buddhist art. It depicts Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) sitting in the wilderness just before he attained enlightenment, touching the ground to raise the Goddess of the Earth to defeat the armies of Mara the god of desire and death. In so doing this, Siddhartha had overcome the last of many dangers and temptations Mara had laid before him. A great victory indeed, which must account for the widespread popularity of this theme in South East Asia. Age: 16th Century Height: 50 cm Remarks: As can be seen in the above photos, the finial on top of the usnisha is a wooden replacement made in the 1970s to give the Buddha balance and proportion. |
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