6 S E AT E D B U D D H A Thailand (Chiang Saen period), 15th century Height: 53.5 cm Width: 31.5 cm Depth: 20 cm
A cast bronze figure of a seated Buddha on a pedestal base, cross-legged and with a calm and serene expression.
his left shoulder and breast, he looks forwards, his neck elongated and back straight. His face carries a calm and serene expression, the hair worked in tight curls rising to a usnisha surmounted by a flame finial. His elongated ears curve down gently to either side of his oval face.
Provenance: The Dani and Anna Ghigo collection acquired in Bangkok, 26th October 1973. Dani Ghigo
He is seated on a lotus base placed on a plain hexagonal pedestal in bhumisparshamudra, the “earth witness” Buddhist pose which symbolises his enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. His right hand points towards the ground, whilst his left rests on his lap in dhyanamudra, the gesture of meditation. Dressed in a sanghati or monastic robe covering
helped bring Himalayan and Southeast Asian art to his countrymen’s attention over the course of a 50-year career. He, along with his wife collected works of exceptional quality, including Khmer sculptures of the Angkor period, bronze and sandstone works from Thailand, Indonesian figures of both Hindu and Buddhist traditions and Tibetan and Nepalese bronze of Buddhas, bodhisattvas and Lamas.