Shan Burmese Bronze Buddha

Cast Bronze Seated Buddha

Shan States, Burma

17th-18th century

height: 26.8cm, width: 9.3cm, weight: 1,777g

This Buddha sits in the ‘earth touching’ or bhumispara position, also known as the ‘calling the earth to witness’ pose, whereby the Buddha, seated in meditation under the Bodhi tree on the evening before his enlightenment, is challenged by the demon Mara to prove that he had given alms. The Buddha touched the ground with his right hand and asked the earth to bear witness to his past good deeds (Fraser-Lu & Stadtner, 2015, p. 152).

The image has been cast as a single piece with the elongated features often seen among Shan Buddha images. The head faces slightly forward, the eyes are half-closed and the eyebrows and lines for the nose are all joined as one. The nose is prominent and flared. The lips turn up at the corners. The ears are elongated – they are those of a prince. The hairstyle is akin to neat rows of peppercorns.

The image wears the simple robes of a monk. His right shoulder has been left bare. He sits on a high, tiered throne that is waisted in the middle and incised with petal motif decoration. Such thrones are characteristic to Burmese and Shan Buddha thrones. The elongated bud-like jewel to the top of the Buddha’s head is also peculiar to Burmese and Shan images and seems to have its origins in seventeenth century representations of the Buddha (Lowry, 1974).

There is a flattened cartouche at the back of the throne that has been cast with a large flower motif.

The image is in excellent condition and has a dark patina with traces of lacquer. It sits evenly, without rocking. It was acquired in the UK and no doubt arrived in the UK during the colonial era.

References

Fraser-Lu, S., & D.M. Stadtner, Buddhist Art of Myanmar, Asia Society Museum, 2015.

Karow, O., Burmese Buddhist Sculpture: The Johan Moger Collection, White Lotus, 1991.

Lowry, J., Burmese Art, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1974.

Somkiart Lopetcharat, Myanmar Buddha: The Image and its History, Siam International Books Company, 2007.

Provenance

UK art market

Inventory no.: 4137

SOLD