Thai Buddha. Sukhothai style, 19th century.

Thai Buddha. Sukhothai style, 19th century.
Patinated and gilded bronze.
In wooden temple-pagoda painted in green, with gilding.
Exhibits sligthly wear consistent with age and use and slight flaws in the brass ornaments.
Measurements: 50 x 29 x 20 cm (Buddha); 88 x 54 x 32 cm (pagoda).

Seated sculpture of Buddha in gilded bronze. Seated in the posture of the lotus flower, he adopts with his hands a spiritual mudra. It follows models of the Sukhothai reign, which can be seen in the anatomical elegance, the fineness of the physiognomic details and the quality of the bronze. Iconographically, we identify in it several lakshana or symbolic signs specific to the plastic representation of buddhas and bodhisattvas of sacred significance, such as the eyelids folded, symbol of spiritual concentration and purity, for its similarity to the petals of the lotus. The serene and symmetrical face is a symbol of balance and serenity of a perfect being. Finally we also see the elongated earlobes, which allude to the large earrings worn by members of the upper classes and represent the concepts of greatness, nobility and wisdom. The carefully carved headdress is inspired by the shape of a stupa. The sculpture is housed in a pagoda-shaped niche, made of carved wood, hand-painted and gilded.

Sukhothai Buddha statues represent one of Thailand's most prestigious forms of Buddhist art. Originating from the Sukhothai kingdom, which flourished between the 13th and 15th centuries, these statues are sumptuous in style, reflecting the cultural spirit of the time. The Sukhothai kingdom, located in north-central Thailand, is often considered the first Thai kingdom and a golden age of Thai civilization. Founded in 1238, Sukhothai quickly became a center of cultural, political and religious development. Under the rule of King Ramkhamhaeng the Great, the kingdom experienced a flourishing of arts, literature and architecture, deeply influenced by Theravada Buddhism. Sukhothai Buddha statues emerged during this period, embodying the artistic innovation and spiritual devotion of the kingdom.