Thai school, mid-twentieth century. "Buddha".

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22nd November - Oriental Art

By Setdart Auction House

Nov 22, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-11-22 10:00:00 2021-11-22 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : 22nd November - Oriental Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/setdart-auction-house/22nd-november---oriental-art-7877
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• Lot Description
  Thai school, mid-twentieth century. "Buddha". Lacquered wood, gilded and with mirror glass applications. Measurements: 180 x 90 x 28 cm (sculpture); 13,5 x 37 x 37 cm (wooden base). Buddha statue of Mandalay style, period dated between 1853 and 1948, initiated with the transfer of the capital from Amarapura to Mandalay and ending with the independence of the United Kingdom. Buddha images from this period are youthful, sweet-faced and dressed in rich robes carefully folded, embroidered and often decorated with mirrored stones and crystals. Sculptures before this time throughout Southeast Asia tended to depict monastic habits in a much more schematic manner. In the Mandalay period greater realism emerges in the features of the Buddha and his attire. The style of the faces is oval with long pointed noses, full lips and almond-shaped eyes defined by arched eyebrows. The facial expression is serene with narrowed eyes, concentrated in meditation and a soft smile on the lips. The hair hugs the head in tight curls and covers a broad, two-dimensional unisha or bulge on the head, representing the knowledge and wisdom the Buddha attained after being enlightened; the unisha sometimes takes the form of a flame indicating enlightenment. The long ears signify the wealth he had during his life as a prince and the curly hair represents the nobility he possesses. Images of the standing Buddha are often shown in the Varada mudra, a sacred gesture of blessing. It is a very characteristic iconographic representation of Buddhist sculpture in a standing position in Burma. It symbolizes the blessing of the Buddha with a significance of offering, charity and compassion. The Varada Mudra is an important iconic gesture, showing the Buddha's hand with the fingers pointing downward and with the palm turned slightly away from the body. The turned palm indicates that the figure is bestowing his blessing on the viewer. The left hand may perform a different mudra, although it may also appear in this same mudra by lightly gathering the mantle. The representation shows several lakshana, iconographic symbols that identify Buddhas and bodhisattvas. The first we see is the hair that in tight curls wraps a wide unisha staggered at two heights, symbol of meditation, of concentrated spiritual life and wisdom. We also see the marked eyebrows, a point from which emanates the light of wisdom that illuminates all beings. The eyelids are a symbol of spiritual concentration and purity because of their similarity to the petals of the lotus, and complete a serene face with a sketched smile, symbol of the balance and serenity of a perfect being. The elongated earlobes allude to the large earrings worn by members of the upper classes in India contemporary to Gautama Siddartha and represent the concepts of greatness, nobility and wisdom. Another lakshana present here are the folds in the neck, symbolizing happiness. He is dressed in wide pleated robes richly ornamented with inlaid borders of polychrome crystals and mirror. The uttarasanga wraps around the torso like a cape covering the arms and chest and falls in wide pleats on both sides of the body and the sanghati flows in numerous pleats from the left shoulder. The complex system of folds of the vestments stands out, which together with the inlaid ornamentation underlines the magnificence of the Buddha. He wears on his head a wide diadem adorned with floral decoration.
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