Bouddha - 19th c. - Sculpture - Laos





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Laotian Buddha statue from the late 18th–19th century, carved in veined stone with traces of lacquer and gold, depicting Mucalinda the Naga protecting the Buddha in Samadhi Mudra; dimensions 20 cm high × 9 cm wide × 8 cm deep; unsigned, no stand, provenance Kanaka The Collection (Portugal), with certificate of authenticity.
Description from the seller
Buddha protected by the naga Mucalinda
Laos, late 18th-19th century
Sculpted stone, traces of lacquer and gold.
H. 20 cm x 9 cm x 8 cm
In Laos, during the 18th and 19th centuries, artistic production was deeply marked by Theravada Buddhism. These statues were often offered to temples (Vats) to accumulate merit. The representation of the Naga is particularly popular in the Mekong Valley, where the serpent is regarded as a protective spirit of waters and of Buddhist faith.
This statuette represents the Buddha Mucalinda (or the Buddha protected by the Naga). It illustrates the episode in the life of the Awakened One where, while meditating under the Bodhi tree, a violent storm broke out. The naga king Mucalinda emerged from the earth to coil his coils under the Buddha’s body (forming a pedestal) and unfurled his hood to protect him from the elements. The Buddha is depicted in Samadhi Mudra (the gesture of meditation), hands resting flat on the legs, palms facing upward, symbolizing the attainment of spiritual awakening and serenity.
Unlike the classical Khmer representations where the Naga often has seven or nine heads, this Lao style presents a more compact and stylized treatment. The serpent’s body rises behind the Buddha’s back to form a richly ornamented protective dais above his head.
The work is carved in a locally veined stone, rare compared with the more common wood or bronze productions. It retains traces of gold leaf, evidence of its ritual use and its ancient sacred decoration. The surface shows an old patina with traces of lacquer, linked to exposure in a votive or cultic setting.
Condition: Good overall for its age. Some chips, cracks, breaks. Slightly inclined to one side.
Provenance: Kanaka The Collection, Portugal
- Sent with a certificate of authenticity
Sent with UPS and insurance
Seller's Story
Buddha protected by the naga Mucalinda
Laos, late 18th-19th century
Sculpted stone, traces of lacquer and gold.
H. 20 cm x 9 cm x 8 cm
In Laos, during the 18th and 19th centuries, artistic production was deeply marked by Theravada Buddhism. These statues were often offered to temples (Vats) to accumulate merit. The representation of the Naga is particularly popular in the Mekong Valley, where the serpent is regarded as a protective spirit of waters and of Buddhist faith.
This statuette represents the Buddha Mucalinda (or the Buddha protected by the Naga). It illustrates the episode in the life of the Awakened One where, while meditating under the Bodhi tree, a violent storm broke out. The naga king Mucalinda emerged from the earth to coil his coils under the Buddha’s body (forming a pedestal) and unfurled his hood to protect him from the elements. The Buddha is depicted in Samadhi Mudra (the gesture of meditation), hands resting flat on the legs, palms facing upward, symbolizing the attainment of spiritual awakening and serenity.
Unlike the classical Khmer representations where the Naga often has seven or nine heads, this Lao style presents a more compact and stylized treatment. The serpent’s body rises behind the Buddha’s back to form a richly ornamented protective dais above his head.
The work is carved in a locally veined stone, rare compared with the more common wood or bronze productions. It retains traces of gold leaf, evidence of its ritual use and its ancient sacred decoration. The surface shows an old patina with traces of lacquer, linked to exposure in a votive or cultic setting.
Condition: Good overall for its age. Some chips, cracks, breaks. Slightly inclined to one side.
Provenance: Kanaka The Collection, Portugal
- Sent with a certificate of authenticity
Sent with UPS and insurance

