Large Burmese Wooden Buddha in Bhumisparsha Mudra, Mandalay Style, Gilt, c. 1950, 86 cm

Carved in wood around 1950, this large Mandalay-style Buddha from Burma (Myanmar) was finished with lacquer, gesso, gold leaf and touches of colour. He sits in the lotus posture, soles turned upward, on a flaring oval base. His right hand reaches over the knee to touch the earth in Bhumisparsha mudra, recalling the moment the Buddha called the earth to witness his enlightenment, while the left hand rests open in his lap.

A soft smile lights the broad face beneath its flat hairline band. The eyes are carved and darkened, set below a tall ushnisha of small, round curls, with long, elongated earlobes. A shawl crosses the left shoulder in the zigzag pleats so typical of Mandalay carving and continues down the back. Time has worn away much of the gilding, revealing red and green-turquoise layers that, together with a fine crackle, give the surface real depth. A thin metal bangle encircles the right wrist, most likely added later as a devotional offering.

Condition

Crackle across the whole surface, loss of gilding exposing red and green-turquoise layers, small cracks and joints, and worn edges. No missing parts are visible. A Thai Department of Fine Arts export tag is attached; it is an export document and does not certify age.

Specifications

• Origin: Burma (Myanmar), Mandalay style
• Date: c. 1950
• Material: wood with lacquer, gesso, remains of gold leaf and polychromy
• Mudra: Bhumisparsha (earth-touching)
• Height × width: 86 × 74 cm
• Statue weight: 25.2 kg

Each object is examined before it is offered: material, casting or carving technique, surface, and signs of age are compared with documented references. You will receive a certificate of authenticity and an official invoice detailing the period, material, and available provenance.

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