A FINE BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA, LAOS, LAN XANG KINGDOM, 16TH CENTURY

拍品描述

A FINE BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA, LAOS, LAN XANG KINGDOM, 16TH CENTURY Finely cast seated in dhyanasana on a tall tiered hexagonal base, his right hand lowered in bhumisparsha mudra and the left held in dhyana mudra above his lap, wearing a tight-fitting robe with incised hems and a long pleat draped over the left shoulder, the serene face with heavy-lidded eyes, arched brows, and full lips forming a benevolent smile, flanked by elongated earlobes, the hair arranged in tight curls over the ushnisha topped by a flame finial. Expert’s note: Particularly noteworthy is the elaborate pedestal, which constitutes an integral part of the sculpture rather than merely serving as its support. Below the conventional lotus throne rises a massive, multi-tiered architectural base, its widely projecting and subtly upturned ledges recalling the superimposed rooflines of early Lao temple architecture. Such architecturally conceived pedestals are a distinctive feature encountered among important Lao Buddha images of the Lan Xang period (1353 to 1707), particularly during the 15th and 16th centuries, when Buddhist sculpture and temple architecture underwent an exceptional flowering. The visual analogy may well have been intentional: by elevating the Buddha above the structure of a sacred building, the pedestal effectively creates an architectural throne, emphasizing the image’s intimate connection with the temple in which it was worshipped. Dimensions: Height 42.8 cm The history and religion of Laos and northern Thailand share a various degree of assimilation and development. The founder of the Thai Lan Na Kingdom, King Mangrai, took Vientiane under his rule in the 13th century. Half a century later, the Thai exile, Fa Ngum, broke away and established the Lao kingdom Lan Xang Hom Khao. He is credited with bringing the Sinhalese Buddhism adopted in Northern Thailand to Laos. Similarly, Lao Buddhist sculpture borrowed heavily from northern Thai styles produced at centers of production like Chiang Mai. Within this context, it is not surprising that the present lot shows stylistic features common to both cultures. Literature comparison: Compare a related Thai bronze of Buddha dated 15th-16th century in the Weltmuseum, Vienna, inventory number 19066. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s Amsterdam, 31 October 2000, lot 112 Price: NLG 19,893 or approx. EUR 17,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling and manner of casting with similar features and expression. Note the smaller size (34 cm high). Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Koller, Zurich, 7 June 2016, lot 469 Price: CHF 35,300 or approx. EUR 41,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling and manner of casting with similar features and expression. Note the larger size (93 cm).

图片