A LARGE BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA, AYUTTHAYA PERIOD

Thailand, 16th-17th century. …
Description

A LARGE BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA, AYUTTHAYA PERIOD Thailand, 16th-17th century. Finely cast standing in samabhanga, the right hand raised in abhayamudra and the left elegantly lowered at the side, each with graceful long fingers. Dressed in an uttarasangha and sanghati. The face with a serene expression, his heavy-lidded eyes inlaid with mother-of-pearl, his full lips forming a calm smile, flanked by elongated earlobes, the hair arranged in tight curls over the domed ushnisha surmounted by a flame finial. Provenance: From a Dutch private collection. Condition: Extensive old wear and some losses, dents, nicks, and scratches. The flame loose. The figure leaning with the feet provisionally nailed to the base (this needs to be professionally fixed). Remnants of ancient gilt. The bronze with a fine, smooth, naturally grown patina with scattered malachite and cuprite encrustations. Dimensions: Height 103 cm (excl. base), 120 cm (incl. base) With an associated wood stand. (2) Literature comparison: Compare a closely related figure of Buddha, dated 15th-16th century, 119 cm tall, in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, accession number IS.11-1996. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s Paris, 6 July 2022, lot 233 Price: EUR 22,680 or approx. EUR 24,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A bronze figure of Buddha Shakyamuni, Thailand, Ayutthaya period, 17th century Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling and manner of casting with similar elongated fingers, sanghati, and eyes. Note the related size (106 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s London, 11 May 2016, lot 91 Price: GBP 12,500 or approx. EUR 21,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A gilt-bronze figure of Buddha, Thailand, Ayutthaya period, 17th century Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling and manner of casting with similar elongated fingers, sanghati, and eyes. Note the closely related size (104 cm).

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A LARGE BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA, AYUTTHAYA PERIOD

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A MASSIVE GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA, AYUTTHAYA KINGDOM A MASSIVE GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA, AYUTTHAYA KINGDOM Thailand, 16 th-17 th century. Heavily cast, standing in samabhanga atop a separately cast lotus pedestal, holding both hands in abhaya mudra. Wearing diaphanous monastic robes secured at the waist by a belt, his serene face with heavy-lidded downcast eyes, thin lips forming a calm smile, elegantly arched brows, and his hair arranged in pointed curls around a high ushnisha surmounted by a four-flame siraspata. The base cast with a ring. Provenance: Collection of Godfried Wauters, Belgium. Godfried Wauters has been active in the Belgian trade for over 40 years. He has built a substantial art collection including Chinese and Buddhist sculptures, significantly expanding on the collection already built by his late father Gustaaf (1905-1992). Condition: Very good condition with expected wear and traces of use and worship, casting flaws, signs of weathering and erosions, extensive flaking to the gilt, small encrustations, and casting cracks. Weight: 105 kg Dimensions: Height 175 cm The Ayutthaya Kingdom considered the Buddha as a symbol of enlightenment and wisdom, and was known for its patronage of Buddhism, and many temples built during the period. These temples housed images of the Buddha and other Buddhist deities and were regarded as sacred places where people could practice their faith. The Ayutthaya Kingdom's rulers also used Buddhism as a means of legitimizing their power, considering themselves as "Buddha's representatives on earth," and their patronage of Buddhism was seen as a sign of their moral authority and righteousness. Literature comparison: Compare a related gilt-bronze Buddha, 119 cm high, dated 15th-16th century, in the Victoria and Albert Museum, accession number IS.11-1996. Compare a related gilt-bronze figure of Buddha, dated 16 th century, in the Bangkok National Museum. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s Paris, 6 July 2022, lot 233 Price: EUR 22,680 or approx. EUR 23,500 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A bronze figure of Buddha Shakyamuni, Thailand, Ayutthaya period, 17th century Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling, with similar pose, face, and robe, and manner of casting. Note that only few remnants of gilt have remained on this bronze, which is of much smaller size (106 cm) than the present lot.