Bronze Buddha - Bronze - Laos - 17th century

Bronze lacquered and patinated Buddha – Laos or the Ancient Kingdom of Siam, 17th century (Ayutthaya / Lan Xang period)
Devotional statue in solid bronze depicting Sakyamuni Buddha seated in a meditative pose (sattvaparyanka) on a high stepped pedestal.
The Buddha is shown performing the mudra of the earth witness (Bhumisparsa mudra or Maravijaya), the right hand brushing the knee to evoke the Earth Goddess, the left hand resting in the lap in a cup-shaped gesture.
The Enlightened One is clothed in the traditional monastic robe (uttarasanga) leaving the right shoulder bare, with the sanghati draped in a straight, stylized line along the back.
The face exhibits the characteristic features and the great inner radiance of Lao statuary: an elongated face with half-closed eyelids, large lenticular eyes topped by pronounced eyebrow arches, and ears with greatly stretched lobes. The hair is composed of small conical curls, surmounted by the usnisha crowned with a stylized flame blossom.
The base of the throne is adorned with engraved motifs of geometric arches/scales.

• Era: 17th century (high period)
• Origin: Southeast Asia (Laos / Northern Thailand, Vientiane or Ayutthaya style)
• Material: Bronze cast using lost-wax technique, with a deep natural brown patina.
• Height: 27 cm
• Weight: 2.265 kg (Heavy and dense statue)
• Condition: Good user condition with superb original patina not cleaned. The interior of the skirt is rough from the foundry with significant remnants of the original clay core and its metal armature rod (absolute proof of authenticity). Note: visible wear at the bottom of the base with direct losses and original circular perforations from casting, not affecting the stability or aesthetics of the piece.