A BUDDHA SHAKYAMUNI BRONZE, LAOS
Laos or Northern Thailand, 17th century. The massively cast bronze with Buddha seated in sattvasana on a cushioned, openwork lion throne with a neatly incised inscription, his hands in bhumisparsa and avakasha mudra. Note the stark contrast between the unusually fine and crisp curly hair below the sharply raised ushnisha flame.

Provenance: From a London private collection of Buddhist art.
Condition: Minor losses and dents as visible on the images. Natural patina with little verdigris and some encrustations. Old wear and traces of age. Overall fine condition and in accordance with the age of this statue.

Weight: 9.4 kilograms
Dimensions: 41.7cm height

Clad in an elegant yet simple uttarasangha covering the left shoulder. The heavy-lidded eyes are cast down and the full lips show a serene smile. At the base is a neatly incised bordure with geometrical flowers.

The history and religion of northern Thailand and Laos are intertwined. 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 at that time 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.