Southeast Asia, Burma (Myanmar), ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. A beautiful cast brass Buddha in the Mandalay style with shimmering inlays of glass and painted with gold hues. The eyes are inlaid with enamel that adds a lifelike quality to the visage. He is seated on an integral pedestal in full lotus position, his hands forming the earth witness mudra gesture, his right hand resting on his knee reaching towards the ground, and his other hand in his lap. The underside reveals the hollow casting technique, and much of the interior cavity is filled with stucco or stone material from where this beautiful statue once rested. Size: 17" L x 10" W x 21" H (43.2 cm x 25.4 cm x 53.3 cm); gold quality: 14.21% to 17.67% (equivalent to 3K+ to 4K+)
The Buddha displays the Calling Earth to Witness mudra, also known as Subduing Mara or Bhumisparsa representing the moment just prior to enlightenment, with the Buddha sitting in meditation, his left hand in his lap with palm upright, and his right hand palm downward touching the earth. At the moment just before Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment, the demon Mara viciously attacked him with his troops of monsters attempting to scare him away from his seat under the bodhi tree. However, the Buddha-to-be remained. Mara claimed that his spiritual deeds were greater than Siddhartha’s challenging the Buddha-to-be. Then Siddhartha extended his right hand to touch the earth, Mara disappeared, and Siddhartha achieved enlightenment.
Provenance: private Rochester, Michigan, USA collection
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#182605
Condition
Losses to glass inlays on head. Surface has probably been gilt and painted several times, with fading and uneven surface coloration. Minor loss to brass edge on base, but rest of statue is intact with surface abrasions and chips to pigments. Heavy mortar remains inside the hollow body.