Antique Bronze Earth Witnessing Buddha, Burma/Myanmar (3553)

Description

A statue or painting of Buddha is called in Sanskrit Buddharupa meaning “the form of an Enlightened One.” This bronzel statue is the historical Buddha in Earth Witnessing mudra (bhumisparsha in Sanskrit) which shows his inner strength at the moment of  enlightenment. It is one of the most common poses used for Burmese Buddhas.

This late 19th-early 20th century Buddha extends his right hand with elongated even-lengthened fingers to touch the earth. His legs are in padmasana, exposed soles atop the opposing knees. In renowned Mandalay style, his soft youthfully sweet face with 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. Many of the 32 lakshanas, the auspicious traits of the Buddha, are displayed: upright body; well-formed nose; fine hair with snail-crowned curls (shwebo thorns); slightly elongated body, face, arms, fingers, and hands; 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 simple Theravada two-part monks-robes in “open mode” with the right shoulder bare, the outer robe (sanghati) flowing over his shoulder with gentle folds.  The bottom garment flares out elegantly with beautiful folds as he sits on an undecorated pedestal.

Buddhist statues traditionally have been 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.