Burma, 19th Century, Representation Of The Maravijaya Buddha, Copper Alloy

Statuette representing the Maravijaya Buddha

Burma
19th century

The Buddha is depicted seated on a tall, openwork base, legs crossed in the vajraparyanka position, his right hand resting on his knee in bhumisparshamudra, a symbolic gesture of victory over inner demons and the activation of the Earth as a witness to his awakening, his left hand placed in his lap, palm facing upwards. The Awakened One is clothed in the uttarasangha, worn close to the body, and a long samghati draped over the left shoulder. The face is characterized by subtle, comma-shaped brow ridges above lenticular eyes, an aquiline nose with dilated nostrils above a thin mouth forming a slight smile.
The neck displays the three beauty lines, the forehead is adorned with a wide, pleated headband, and the delicate hair is styled with small spikes. The skull features the usnisa crowned with a rasmi in the shape of a lotus bud, and elongated ears with distended lobes extending to the shoulders, recalling the Blessed One's past worldly life.
The back of the piece includes two rings that once held a parasol or a stylized bodhi tree.

Copper alloy
15.2 × 8.9 cm
Oxidation, wear from use and traces of gilding.
Private collection

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