A wooden Buddha figurine, consisting of two parts (figurine and plinth are separate). The Buddha-Shakyamuni, wearing a finely cut monk’s robe, sits in a meditative pose (dhyana mudra), legs crossed and hands laid in each other, eyes lowered, with an emphatically relaxed, inward and meditative facial expression.
The broad, almost round face and the stocky upright body point to the Mandalay style of Burma. However, the striking and accentuated pointed ears can occasionally be found within Thai artistic styles (such as Sukhothai, or the late period Ayutthaya, U Thong or Chiang Saen). The hair is very detailed and carved into tiny pyramids. A short, sculpted ushnisha (‘flame’) rises from the crown.
The three-stepped plinth has a plate with fishtail ends on the front. Figurine and plinth are primed with black and covered in gold lacquer. The plinth displays additional surfaces in red lacquer; the lowest step is carved with garland reliefs.
A stylistically interesting, beautiful object with good patina due to age (erosion within the plinth and on the bottom of the figurine). Only minor age-related damage: small cracks on the Ushnisha on top and on the left knee of the figurine, as well as on the plinth.
19th century. H: 67 cm (total). (ME)