Ancient Statuette Of The Buddha, Silver Alloy, Ayutthaya Kingdom, Thailand, 17th–18th Century

ANCIENT STATUETTE OF THE BUDDHA, SILVER ALLOY, AYUTTHAYA KINGDOM, THAILAND, 17TH–18TH CENTURY Depicted seated in padmāsana, legs crossed in the lotus posture, the Buddha presents a right hand extended towards the ground, palm inward, in the gesture of taking the Earth as witness (bhūmisparśa mudrā), while the left hand rests on the legs, palm upward, holding a small bowl. His serene face, with delicately chiseled features, is slightly inclined towards the ground; the half-closed eyelids accentuate the introspective gaze. The flame (unisha) at the top of the skull is elongated, with one end curved backward to form a small hook. The headdress and curls are treated with great finesse. The monastic garment, partially visible, is marked at the back by a long incised fold evoking the hem of the sanghati falling over the shoulder. Silver alloy with a light patina, old surface slightly gilded in places. AYUTTHAYA, THAILAND, 17th–18th CENTURY Dimensions: 11.7 × 7 × 5 cm Price: €1,250 Provenance: old collection from the south-east of France, built up from the 1970s Sold with certificate of authenticity Guaranteed origin and period "This statuette can be attributed to the north of the kingdom of Ayutthaya, flourishing from the 14th to the 18th century in what is now Thailand. The appearance of the face, the finesse of the modelling and the shape of the flame crowning the Buddha, slightly curved, are typical of 17th–18th century workshops. The bowl held in the left hand, often interpreted as an alms bowl, refers to the representation of the Mandya Buddha, venerated for his wisdom and compassion. This specific type, linked to the schools of the north of the kingdom, is rarely represented in this reduced form and with such attention to detail, which underlines its quality and rarity."* Shipping costs on estimate.