369 - STANDING BRONZE BUDDHA SRI LANGKA POSSIBLY POLONNARUWA PERIOD 12TH CENTURY

STANDING BRONZE BUDDHA SRI LANGKA POSSIBLY POLONNARUWA PERIOD 12TH CENTURY Dimensions: Height 37 cm Wide 12 cm Depth 12 cm Weight: 2444 grams A tall standing bronze Buddha, the body elongated and composed, with both forearms crossed before the chest. The monastic robe is draped over one shoulder and falls in rhythmic folds along the figure, while the calm face is framed by elongated earlobes and tightly curled hair beneath a low ushnisha. Areas of patination and surface accretion emphasise the age of the bronze. The unusual crossed-arm posture is particularly associated with medieval Sri Lankan Buddhist imagery and is known from sculptures connected with the Polonnaruwa tradition. Its precise meaning has been interpreted in different ways, but visually the gesture creates an inward, contemplative mood distinct from the more familiar teaching or reassurance gestures of standing Buddhas. The restrained modelling and vertical silhouette give the figure a pronounced sense of stillness. Rather than relying on elaborate ornament, the sculpture achieves its presence through proportion, the measured fall of the robe and the quiet concentration of the face.