Monumental Konbaung/Shan Lacquer & Gilt Buddha Head, Burma (Myanmar) On Museum Stand (3370)

Description

This stunning, rare, and distinctive piece is a Konbaung/Shan Buddha image (aka Mandalay or Shan-style Buddha), a period considered the height of Burmese Buddhist art. The Konbaung Dynasty (1752–1885) was Myanmar’s last ruling monarchy, and the Shan state is an ethnic region famous for premium, highly distinct, and influential Konbaung sculpture. The Shan state is an ethnic region famous for premium, highly distinct, and influential Konbaung sculpture.

Most antique lacquer Buddhas were small home devotional pieces. This huge outstanding Buddha head originally was part of an over-sized lacquer statue enshrined in a Burmese temple or monastery indicating both his princely past and spiritual enlightenment. The warm tones and  soft and gentle features exemplify the aesthetic sensibilities of Burmese religious art from this era. Richly adorned with red lacquer and gold leaf, the sculpture captures the spiritual ideals of Theravada Buddhism through its tranquil expression and gentle features. A serene and compassionate expression with downcast eyes and sweetly smiling lips emphasize the Buddha’s qualities of peace, wisdom, compassion, and serenity. The curled hair and prominent ushnisha (cranial protuberance) are traditional marks of the Buddha as are the elongated lobes that indicate his enlightened status and wisdom. This head is remarkable for its subtle modeling of his features and the beauty and serenity of his expression which is infinitely more difficult to capture in lacquer than wood. Burmese artistic conventions are used to show the Buddha as a meditative enlightened being who possesses internal reserves of spiritual power that is internalized, under control, unseen, but immediately able to be brilliantly demonstrated. The blending of spiritual symbolism, masterful techniques, and warm approachable style make this a rare and veritable masterpiece. It is in excellent condition mounted on a museum-quality metal display stand.

AI Market Valuation Summary

AI rates this piece as a Major Investment-Grade Centerpiece for the following reasons:

This exceptionally massive head was from a larger-than-life statue housed in a temple. It was created using traditional dry lacquer technique. It has authentic surface aging of a “red-and-gold” dual patina: a vibrant, deep-red under coat of chad lacquer – a mercury-based cinnabar mixed with native thitsi tree sap – with gold leaf highlights. The gold leaf has gently slightly faded on the cheeks and nose over two centuries of worship. Although lacquerware is fragile and often splits or cracks, this piece is in excellent condition. The rear with meticulously hand-applied conical hair curls formed individually from a paste of tree sap and bone ash confirms this head was crafted using a prestigious, highly labor-intensive technique. A hollow dry lacquer piece of this size and beauty is a collector’s masterpiece.