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Monumental 19th-Century Bronze-Cast Buddha Shakyamuni on Openwork Altar Throne – Lan Na / Tibetan Style (52 cm)

Monumental 19th-Century Bronze-Cast Buddha Shakyamuni on Openwork Altar Throne – Lan Na / Tibetan Style (52 cm)

Regular price $2,193.00 USD
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This monumental, antique altar sculpture of Buddha Shakyamuni from the 19th century combines the serene aesthetic of the classical North Thai Lan Na (Chiang Saen) style with the powerful proportions of Tibetan sacred bronze art. With an impressive height of 52.0 cm and a width of 36.5 cm, this sculpture is an absolute eye-catcher. The statue is cast entirely from a high-quality bronze alloy with an exceptionally heavy, thick-walled structure, which is immediately apparent from its monumental weight of no less than 13.3 kg.

The historical Buddha is seated in the iconic Bhumisparsha mudra on a rare, architectural altar throne. This masterpiece is in an untouched, verified temple state and exudes centuries of devotion.


Spiritual Significance & Iconography

The Bhumisparsha mudra (the gesture of the earth as witness) marks the ultimate spiritual moment when the seated Shakyamuni touches the ground with the fingertips of his right hand. With this, he calls upon the earth goddess to bear witness to his unwavering steadfastness and the countless merits from his previous lives, with which he definitively overcomes the illusions and temptations of the demon king Mara. This powerful symbol of spiritual triumph and enlightenment is reinforced by the Lan Na iconography: a prominent ushnisha (cranial protuberance), large spiral hair curls, and a serene, deeply meditative facial expression that brings absolute imperturbability into the space.


Rare Openwork Throne & Forensic Patina

  • Complex Casting: Unlike 95% of period statues which feature a closed, simple lotus base, this Buddha is integrated with a monumental, fully openwork altar throne. The platform rests on three spherical feet and features a continuous high relief around its circumference with stylized floral tendrils and cloud scrolls.
  • Fossilized Temple Encrustations: The deeper, openwork parts of the throne contain authentic, fossilized accumulations of light grey incense ash, temple soot, and ritual butter oil deposits. This layered matrix is the irrefutable result of decades of ceremonial use in an active temple environment and cannot be reproduced by modern chemical means.
  • Patina Stratigraphy: The sculpture possesses a rich, naturally oxidized skin with deep olive-green and charcoal-brown hues. The elevated parts of the floral relief and the underside of the feet show a natural, golden-brown metallic sheen. This subtle abrasion has occurred due to generations of shifting the heavy 13.3 kg bronze over wooden temple altars.
  • Pre-Industrial Production Characteristics: The hollow interior of the throne and the body preserve the rough, untouched texture of the original casting core of river sand and clay (lost-wax method). Visible casting flaws and irregular metal boundaries along the edges bear witness to the authentic, artisanal casting process of the 19th century, far from modern sterile factory production or CNC post-processing.

Specifications

  • Origin: Thailand / Tibet (Lan Na cultural area with Tibetan influences)
  • Period: 19th century
  • Material: High-quality bronze (Solid, thick-walled casting)
  • Dimensions: Height 52.0 cm | Width 36.5 cm
  • Weight: 13.3 kg (Exceptionally high density)
  • Condition: Excellent, verified original condition with historical wear and a fabulous, untouched ritual ash patina.
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