Buddha reclinato – Birmania - Sculpture - Myanmar/Burma

Reclining Buddha – Burma

Carved wood, lacquered and decorated with colored glass –

Important Burmese sculpture depicting a reclining Buddha, made in finely carved wood and subsequently enriched with rich lacquer decoration and ornamental inserts. The work belongs to the artistic tradition of 20th-century Burma, traceable to the Mandalay period, characterized by a refined production of devotional images intended for monasteries, shrines, and religious environments.

The figure is depicted according to the iconography of the Buddha in Parinirvana, lying on one side with the head supported by the hand, in a pose of deep serenity and meditation. The face, with half-closed eyes and a composed expression, follows the characteristic standards of Burmese Buddhist sculpture.

Notably remarkable is the workmanship of the garment, obtained through an intricate carving with floral and arabesque motifs, enriched by numerous small ornamental inserts. The surface retains traces of traditional lacquering, with dark and orange-reddish tones, and numerous decorative elements applied, including small glass inserts. These decorative techniques, combined with the complexity of the carving, give the sculpture considerable material richness.

The creation of works of this kind required several craftsman stages: shaping and carving the wood, preparing the surface, applying the lacquer layers, and the subsequent decoration of the ornamental elements. The whole piece testifies to the high level achieved by the workshops specialized in producing Burmese sacred images.

The sculpture shows an authentic patina and a surface strongly marked by time, elements that emphasize its historical nature and devotional character. There are dust and accumulations, losses of material and decoration, abrasions and scuffing, cracks, scratches, breaks and prior repairs, coherent with its age and the wooden nature of the work. The surface also shows evident alterations and losses of the original lacquer.

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