A RARE AND LARGE SRI LANKAN SOLID-CAST GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA SHAKYAMUNI, KANDYAN PERIOD, 18TH CENTURY

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A RARE AND LARGE SRI LANKAN SOLID-CAST GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA SHAKYAMUNI, KANDYAN PERIOD, 18TH CENTURY The present figure is a superb example of late Sri Lankan Buddhist sculpture, distinguished by its broad-shouldered silhouette, elegantly cascading robes with rhythmic folds, and prominent siraspata crowning the head. Its significance is further enhanced by its impressive scale and substantial weight, a consequence of the solid-casting technique employed by Buddhist image-makers during the Kandyan period. Following several centuries of relative decline, Buddhism experienced a remarkable revival throughout the Kandyan Kingdom during the latter half of the eighteenth century under the patronage of King Kirti Sri Rajasinha (r. 1747-1782). The king actively supported Buddhist institutions and invited learned monks from Burma and Thailand to re-establish and strengthen the monastic tradition in Sri Lanka. In accordance with canonical prescriptions dating as early as the ninth century, Buddhist images in Sri Lanka were traditionally cast solid rather than hollow. The use of substantial casting moulds during the Kandyan period contributed to the distinctive monumentality and consistency of the sculptural style. While Kandyan bronze figures are generally characterised by their powerful broad-shouldered proportions, subtle variations can be observed in the treatment of the robes, particularly in the undulating folds and the hem of the sanghati draped across the left shoulder. The present sculpture exemplifies these characteristics with exceptional clarity and refinement. For a closely comparable standing figure of Shakyamuni Buddha, see the example sold at Christie's New York, 11 September 2019, lot 335. 46cm high (Overall including the base); 36.8cm high (figure) PROVENANCE: Jazmin Asian Art, Singapore. A private collection Sydney, acquired from Eastern Discoveries Antiques, Singapore, in 2007. EXHIBITIONS: San Francisco, Arts of Pacific Asia Show, 2006.

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