A dry lacquer figure of Buddha


Myanmar, Ava style, 19th centuryThe figure with traces of gilding; together with an associated Mandalay mandorla, circa 1880 (both with wear, minor losses). [2]30in (76.2cm) height of Buddha47in (119.5cm) height of associated mandorla
|Discussing the style and attribution of the figure in a recent exhibition catalog, Sylvia Fraser-Lu writes:'This Buddha image with eyebrows set high on the forehead well above downcast eyes, sharply chiseled nose, and a small slightly puckered mouth displays features typical of Ava-style images [of Myanmar]. Framing the facial features and neck are ears with very long lobes that touch the shoulders. The head and ushnisha are covered with a cap of small spikes of lacquer sometimes referred to as "Shwebo thorns"...The left hand with very long digits, rests palm upward in the lap. The right hand, with fingers of equal length, is in the bhumisparsa mudra touching the upper surface of what remains of the base of the throne, where light outlines of the lower robe can be seen fanning out between the legs...This examples is typical of images made in the dry lacquer medium known as man-hpaya.'ExhibitedBuddhist Art of Myanmar, Asia Society Museum, New York, 10 February-10 May 2015 (figure only).PublishedSylvia Fraser-Lu & Donald Stadtner (eds.), Buddhist Art of Myanmar, New York, 2015, pp.174-5, no.44 (figure only).ProvenanceBoth figure and mandorla:Estate of Connie Mangskau (1907-1990), ThailandElephant House, BangkokThe Krannich Collection, Virginia, acquired from the above in 1993