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G766.1 LACQUERED AND GILDED WOOD RECLINING BUDDHA
BURMA, MANDALAY PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY
L. 99 CMS, 39 INS.
H. 26 CMS, 10 INS.
A large, superbly carved, lacquered and gilded wood figure of a reclining Buddha, the face smiling and serene, his head resting upon his right hand, the folds of his robe carved in layers.
The subject matter of this image is the passage of the Buddha into Nirvana. He lies down on a royal couch in the sala grove of the Malla kings beside the Hirannavati River. Surrounded by his faithful monks he utters his final words: “Everything is subject to change; strive on without delay”, and at dawn on the following day passed into the great Nirvana.
For a group of related parinirvana Buddhas in bronze, wood and alabaster, see P. 143 – P. 144 and P. 163 – P. 165 in Somkiart Lopetcharat, Myanmar Buddha: The Image and Its History, Bangkok: Siam International Books Co., 2007.
Provenance: Private French collection.
Note: Tip of right forefinger is missing.