Goddess of rice "Mae Phosop". Rattanakosin Period (Thailand). Bangkok, ca. 1830.

Goddess of rice "Mae Phosop". Rattanakosin Period (Thailand). Bangkok, ca. 1830.
Bronze, with traces of the original gilding.
Presents structural integrity and good general state of preservation, with partial losses of gilding and patina consistent with the passage of time.
Measurements: 105 × 64 × 65 cm.

Important sculpture representing Mae Phosop, the goddess of rice in Thai tradition, an essential figure in the beliefs linked to fertility, prosperity and crop protection. The deity appears kneeling on a richly decorated stepped base, in a serene attitude that conveys balance and sacredness.

Made in bronze with traces of the original gilding, the piece stands out for the quality of the modeling and the elegance of its proportions. The treatment of the face, with idealized features and peaceful expression, responds to the canons of the Rattanakosin period, while the ornamental details -such as the elaborate pectoral, the earrings and the decoration of the base- show a high technical level and refinement.

In Thai culture, Mae Phosop embodies the spirit of rice and is the object of veneration in agricultural rituals, being considered the guarantor of abundance and collective well-being. Sculptures of this type, intended for devotional and ceremonial contexts, reflect the close relationship between religion, nature and daily life in Southeast Asia.

Comparable examples are kept in institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York or the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, underlining the relevance of these representations in Southeast Asian art.