Large 19th C. Burmese Marble Seated Buddha

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Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic

By Artemis Gallery

Feb 21, 2019

Set Reminder 2019-02-21 10:00:00 2019-02-21 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-3858
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• Lot Description
  Southeast Asia, Burma (modern-day Myanmar), Mandalay period, ca. 19th century CE. A beautiful, large-scale Shakyamuni Buddha carved from yellow-white marble and meticulously-smoothed surfaces. The Buddha is shown peacefully seated in the full lotus position atop an integral tiered plinth decorated with incised fretted, floral, concentric diamond, and semicircular registers. His hands are held in the Bhumisparsa mudra in front of a simple robe, and rounded shoulders trace inwards to a thick neck with incised horizontal rings. Downturned eyes beneath thin brows, a naturalistic nose, slender lips, and large ears with drooping lobes constitute the serene countenance, with dark-brown stain embellishing the rounded pate topped with a bulb-shaped ushnisha, and traces of original white and orange pigment visible across the sculpture. Size: 14" W x 27" H (35.6 cm x 68.6 cm).
  
  In Burma (modern Myanmar) Mandalay is regarded as the center of Buddhism, and consequently art flourished in this region and it became known as the center of pure art of Myanmar. The artists employed advanced techniques to create a sophisticated style. This example possesses characteristic traits of the Mandalay Buddha with its oval shaped face, flat temples, human-like facial features, elongated ears that extend all the way to the shoulders symbolizing Buddha's all-hearing powers and wisdom, slender body, and painted details using a pigment known as "chad." Mandalay artists appreciated realism, particularly when depicting the facial features and elegant posture.
  
  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 East Coast, USA collection; ex-private Connecticut, USA collection, acquired in the 1980s
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
  We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
  
  #142463

  Condition

  Small chips to base, limbs, body, head, and verso, with light softening to some finer details, minor abrasions, and fading to original pigmentation, otherwise intact and excellent. Light earthen deposits and traces of original pigmentation throughout.
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