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45
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GOLD-PLATED DRY LACQUER BUDDHA BUSTO
See original version (French)
45
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GOLD-PLATED DRY LACQUER BUDDHA BUSTO
See original version (French)
Estimate €3,000 - €4,000
Voluntary lot
Description
GOLD-PLATED DRY LACQUER BUDDHA BUSTO
Kingdom of Siam (Thailand), Ayutthaya style
17th–18th century (in the style)
Height: 81 cm
An impressive Buddha bust crafted using the traditional dry lacquer technique, which involves applying successive layers of canvas and lacquer to a lightweight core, followed by a preparatory coat and a rich gilding.
The Buddha is depicted with an expression of serenity. The face, with its harmonious features, shows eyes half-closed in meditation, a slight smile on the lips and delicately arched eyebrows. The hair is rendered in fine, regular curls, topped by the uṣṇīṣa, a symbol of Enlightenment. The long earlobes are a reminder of his former princely status.
The monastic robe elegantly drapes over the shoulders and torso, in keeping with the aesthetic principles of the Ayutthaya school, characterised by soft modelling and balanced proportions. The original gilding, now partially worn away, reveals a beautiful patina of age, bearing witness to the sculpture’s antiquity and the devotion with which it was venerated.
The right hand, now missing, would originally have performed a ritual gesture (mudrā), probably that of touching the earth (Bhūmisparśa mudrā), a motif particularly common in Siamese art.
A monumental and decorative work, this bust is a remarkable example of Thai religious sculpture inspired by the grand Ayutthaya style.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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