Bouddha - Late 19th c. - Mandalay - 雕刻 - 緬甸

Buddha statue in the awakening position
Burmese
Mandalay
End of the 19th century
Carved wood, black lacquer (thit-see) and gold leaf gilding
Height: 18 cm

This statuette represents the Buddha seated on a tall, smooth and semi-circular pedestal, characteristic of late Konbaung period productions. It stands out for its raw sobriety and monastic execution that favors strong lines over the profusion of royal ornaments.

The Buddha is depicted in bhumisparsha mudrā, the gesture of calling the earth to witness. His right hand rests on the knee, fingers pointing toward the ground, while his left hand rests flat on his lap, palm facing the sky.

Faithful to the canons of the Mandalay school, the face presents tranquil features. It is characterized by long half-closed eyes with heavy eyelids evoking inner meditation, a straight nose and lips that sketch a slight smile. The earlobes are elongated to almost touch the shoulders, symbolizing his former princely status. The whole is crowned by a rounded and smooth ushnisha, typical of this period.

The Buddha is draped in the monastic robe, folded over the left shoulder, leaving the right shoulder bare. The mantle’s edge falls onto the chest in sinuous, geometrically arranged folds, a particularly stylized graphic treatment that adds rhythm to the sculpture’s sobriety. At the back, the drapery falls fluidly along the back.

The statuette retains a rich original gilding applied over a traditional black lacquer base serving as a primer. Light wear reveals the dark ground in places, offering a beautiful patina of antiquity. The rear face of the pedestal features a rectangular cavity for embedding or consecration, kept under a black lacquer reserve. The underside of the base shows the raw texture of the original wood, bearing witness to direct and vigorous carving work, as well as a central circular fixing hole.

Condition: Good overall. Original gilding and beautiful patina. A few chips.

Provenance: Kanaka The Collection, Portugal

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