Antique 19th-century Burmese Buddha - Hand-carved Polychrome Wood - 57 cm

A rare masterpiece of Burmese sacred art

This exceptional antique Buddha statue, dating from the late 19th to early 20th century, is a beautiful example of high-quality Burmese woodcarving. With an impressive height of 57 cm, the figure is depicted in the Bhumisparsha Mudra (the gesture of touching the earth), characterized by a serene facial expression and the elegant, flowing lines typical of the Mandalay/Shan transition period.

Exceptional detailing and rare iconography

What truly distinguishes this piece is the unique elephant pedestal. In the Buddhist tradition, the elephant symbolizes mental strength and steadfastness. This specific iconographic detail is significantly rarer than standard lotus feet, making this sculpture a highly sought-after object for serious collectors of Asian art.

Verified material integrity

The sculpture is carved from a single block of tropical hardwood. The authenticity is confirmed by the complex, multi-layered finish:

• Original Thit-si lacquer: The fundamental layers of hard black lacquer (resin from the lacquer tree) are visible through natural wear at the contact points.
• Authentic polychromy: Remnants of the original white gesso underlayer, red lacquer, and fragments of pure gold leaf have been preserved, bearing witness to more than a century of ritual devotion.
• Natural patina: Under microscopic examination, the surface shows authentic fragmentation of the lacquer layer—irrefutable proof of age that cannot be reproduced in modern workshops.

Specifications:

• Origin: Burma (Myanmar)
• Period: Late 19th / Early 20th century (ca. 1890–1910)
• Material: Hand-carved hardwood, polychromy, gold leaf
• Dimensions: Height 57 cm | Width 24.5 cm
• Weight: 7.2 kg
• Condition: Excellent antique condition with stabilized drying cracks inherent to tropical hardwood of this age.

Archive & Validation: This object has been fully documented and analyzed via digital microscopy. A detailed research report (Archive ID: BUR-WOOD-57-2026) is archived at the 1stBuddha Research Unit at 1stbuddha.com and is available to the buyer upon request.