G767.4 LARGE GILDED AND LACQUERED WOOD BUDDHA

LAOS, PROBABLY FROM THE VIENTIANE AREA

19^TH CENTURY

H. 70 CMS, 27 ½ INS

A large and beautifully sculpted teakwood Buddha seated on a high tiered lotus pedestal, with his right hand lowered in bhumisparsimudra (the gesture of summoning the earth to witness), the face with an intense spiritual gaze, inlaid eyes and a tall lotus usnisha, extensively gilded and lacquered in black and red.

The Laotian kingdom of Lan Xang or Lan Chang was established during the 14^th century and ruled by Thais. Its northern capital of Luang Prabang was subjected to cultural influences from the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai, while its southern capital, Vientiane, absorbed Khmer and Ayutthaya (Thai) motifs.

For a related Buddha from Vientiane please see p.243, upper left in S. Lopetcharat, Lao Buddha: The Image and Its History, Bangkok: Siam International Book Company, 2000.

Provenance: Private Dutch collection