Monumental seated image of the Buddhist monk Phra Malai. Thailand, Rattanakosin period

Monumental seated image of the Buddhist monk Phra Malai. Thailand, Rattanakosin period.
Bronze.
Fine details with good patina.
In good condition.
Measurements: 73 x 63 x 33 cm.

Bronze sculpture from the Rattanakosin period of remarkable quality. It represents Phra Malai Kham Luang, the real version of a Thai legendary poem by the Sri Lankan monk Arhat Maliyadeva.His story, which includes concepts such as reincarnation, merit and Buddhist cosmology, was a popular part of Thai funerary practices in the 19th century.
The Rattanakosin kingdom or period was founded in 1782 with the establishment of Bangkok as the capital city. It was a kingdom founded by King Rama I (Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok) of the Chakri dynasty and was divided into two periods: the first was characterized by the consolidation of the kingdom's power, only interrupted by periodic conflicts with Burma, Vietnam and Laos; the second was distinguished by compromises with the colonial powers of Britain and France, in which Siam managed to remain the only nation in Southeast Asia to maintain its independence.