Lot 189, Auction 4/3/2026: Large 19th C. Burmese Coppered Wood Crowned Buddha

$3,900.00

In stock

Southeast Asia, Burma (Myanmar), ca. 19th century CE. A serene and commanding crowned Buddha carved from wood and richly coppered, seated in bhumisparsa mudra (“earth-touching gesture”), his right hand reaching to the ground to summon the earth goddess as witness to his enlightenment. The figure exudes majesty and poise, adorned in regal attire and an elaborate multi-tiered crown with curling foliate wings and a flaming finial rising at the center. His face bears the gentle, introspective expression characteristic of Burmese sculpture, the eyes half-closed in meditation, the lips softly curved in composure. The entire surface is embellished with inlaid glass of green, red, and mirrored tones, their reflective brilliance echoing the divine radiance of the Enlightened One. The coppered finish, now aged to a warm, mottled patina, lends the sculpture a sense of sacred endurance and time-worn devotion. Size: 4″ L x 11″ W x 25″ H (10.2 cm x 27.9 cm x 63.5 cm)

Figures such as this belong to the Burmese Jambupati tradition, representing the Buddha in royal form. This iconography reflects the belief that the Buddha, though renouncing worldly power, transcends it entirely, embodying a spiritual kingship beyond temporal rule. The bhumisparsa mudra – the moment of victory over Mara – captures the instant when Siddhartha Gautama, seated beneath the Bodhi tree, called upon the earth to bear witness to his enlightenment, symbolizing steadfast resolve and triumph of truth over illusion.

This example would likely have occupied a temple shrine or private devotional space, where the gleaming glass inlays caught the flicker of candlelight, amplifying the aura of sanctity. The delicate tracery of floral and geometric motifs across the robes and base exemplifies the refinement of late Konbaung-era craftsmanship, a fusion of opulent court style and spiritual iconography.

Condition: Spikes of crown are removable. Chipping to gilding and losses to inlays and molding in areas. Good remaining detail.

Provenance: private Anahola, Hawaii, USA collection, acquired 1970s to 1990s

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