Figure
early 19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This standing Buddha, of carved, lacquered and gilded teak, is dressed in the royal robes of the subduer of Jambhupati. A story which tells of an ambitious king of that name whom the Buddha humbled and converted by appearing in the unmatchable splendour of a Universal Monarch. This standing Buddha is depicted in the gold insignia of a Burmese King of the Konbaung Dynasty (1752-1885) with its mass of jewelled winged elements, high rising crown and gold salwe (chain of office). The Buddha's right hand is raised in the vitarka mudra a symbolic gesture indicating argument. His left hand is not in a symbolic mudra but is simply dropped to his side perhaps from the tradition of the Buddha sometimes represented holding his monk's robes.
Object details
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Carved in teak, overlaid with black thitsi lacquer (<i>Melanorrhoea usitat</i>) and gilt; heavily decorated in the <i>thayo</i> (relief moulded lacquer) and <i>hman-zi shwei-cha</i> (glass inlay) technique |
| Brief description | Burmese teak lacquered and gilded Buddha. Konbaung Dynasty (1752-1885). Depicted standing in royal robes which are set with pieces of mirror glass and semi-precious stones in the relief moulded thayo and glass inlay hman-zi shwei-cha technique. ca. early 19th century. |
| Physical description | The Buddha is seen as King as the subduer of Jambhupati, in a matyattaw (standing attitude) with his right hand raised in vitarka (elucidation or argument) mudra and his left hand simple dropped to his side perhaps from the tradition of the Buddha sometimes represented holding his monk's robes - not a symbolic mudra. He is dressed in the gold insignia of a Burmese King with its mass of jewelled, winged elements, high rising crown and salwe (chains of office). |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Credit line | Purchased from Messrs S. M. Franck & Co., 25 Camomile Street, London, E.C |
| Object history | From a pagoda at Pagan, Pegu or Moulmein in Lower Burma. Historical significance: The costumes of the Konbaung kings shows an influence from the 18th century court dress of Ayuttya. Purchased from Messrs S. M. Franck & Co., 25 Camomile Street, London, E.C. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project. RP 1912-2306M |
| Production | The sculpture was reported to have been obtained from a pagoda in possibly Pagan, Pegu or Moulmein. |
| Summary | This standing Buddha, of carved, lacquered and gilded teak, is dressed in the royal robes of the subduer of Jambhupati. A story which tells of an ambitious king of that name whom the Buddha humbled and converted by appearing in the unmatchable splendour of a Universal Monarch. This standing Buddha is depicted in the gold insignia of a Burmese King of the Konbaung Dynasty (1752-1885) with its mass of jewelled winged elements, high rising crown and gold salwe (chain of office). The Buddha's right hand is raised in the vitarka mudra a symbolic gesture indicating argument. His left hand is not in a symbolic mudra but is simply dropped to his side perhaps from the tradition of the Buddha sometimes represented holding his monk's robes. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | IM.40-1912 |
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| Record created | November 7, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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