A LARGE COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF A SEATED BUDDHA, RATTANAKOSIN PERIOD Thailand, 19^th century. Cast as Buddha seated on a tapered, stepped base in virasana, the left hand rests gently on his lap whilst the elongated fingers of his right hand are outstretched in bhumisparsa mudra, dressed in a monk's garb, with his feet, right shoulder and full arm exposed, wearing a long scarf that falls diagonally from the left shoulder above the navel, culminating in cascading folds.

Provenance: A German private collection. A notable private collector in Kensington, London, United Kingdom, acquired from the above. Bonhams Hong Kong, Fine Southeast Asian Arts, 29 March 2016, lot 54, bought in at an estimate of HKD 150,000 or approx. EUR 20,500 (converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).
Condition: Good condition with extensive old wear, remnants of gilt and red lacquer, losses to inlays, few nicks, dents and light surface scratches, small losses, and malachite encrustations. Elegant dark patina overall.

Dimensions: Height 86 cm

The face with full lips delineated in a serene half smile, heavy-lidded eyes finely inlaid with shell and glass, and the elongated earlobes frame his face, the hair outlined with a narrow band and tied in tight, spiky curls that encompass the head and ushnisha. The backside with two loops for mounting.

The bhumisparsa mudra is a gesture that echoes the Buddha's call of the Earth to witness and attest to his achievement of maravijaya or enlightenment, thus taking this throne and vanquishing Mara's demonic retinue.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's Amsterdam, 10 May 2000, lot 449
Price: NLG 14,042 or approx. EUR 22,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Thai, Rattanakosin style, gilt-bronze figure of buddha Sakyamuni, late 18th century
Expert remark: Compare the pose, pedestal, and size (78 cm)

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