Antique/Vintage Bronze Earth Witnessing Buddha, Burma/Myanmar (3553BLEM) $2575

Description

A Buddha-statue or painting is called in Sanskrit Buddharupa meaning “the form of an Enlightened One.” This one from Burma/Myanmar portrays the historical Shakyamuni-Buddha sitting in bhumisparsha (Sanskrit for the Earth Touching mudra) which shows his inner strength at the moment of his enlightenment and is one of the most common poses used for Burmese Budddha-statues. His legs are in padmasana with the exposed soles of his bare feet lay atop the opposing knees and display many characteristics of the Burmese Mandalay style. His soft youthfully sweet face with slightly smiling lips is framed by a filet headband separating his forehead from the hair, his pendulous ears signifying his enlightenment extend to his shoulders, and three rings at the neck indicate the three states of existence. His almond-shaped eyes are inlaid with glass as he calmly gazes downward under arched eyebrows that meet at the bridge of his nose. His right hand with elongated even-lengthened fingers reaches to touch the earth. Many of the 32 lakshanas, the auspicious traits of the Buddha, are displayed: his upright body; well-formed nose; fine hair with snail-crowned curls often called shwebo thorns; the slightly elongated body, face, arms, fingers, and hands; the  well-rounded shoulders with soft skin, and the gently curved protuberance on the top of the head (ushnisha) said to have originated as a knot of hair that shows his princely origins and is the mark of a superior being. He wears the simple Theravada two-part monks-robes is in the “open mode” with the right shoulder bare, the outer robe (sanghati) flowing over his shoulder, displaying gentle folds and the bottom garment flaring out elegantly also with beautiful folds as he sits on a plain and undecorated pedestal. Buddhist-statues were often commissioned by pious devotees for donation to a temple or monastery to gain merit to assure good karma. In Southeast Asia a Buddha image is treated with special reverence, kept high in a place of honor, and devotees’ heads cannot be higher than the Buddha’s head. When spoken of, a statue is referred to in royal terms, and every image, no matter how small, is believed to have powerful spiritual energy and a life (chi, qi) of its own. Made in the 20th century using the lost wax process in which the mold is destroyed, this metalwork piece is a one-of-a-kind exquisite work of art and is in excellent condition.