Unknown
Buddha Shakyamunicirca 1850-1900

On view:

Geffen Galleries

Gilded wood sculpture of a standing robed figure on a lotus pedestal, with gold-leafed face, downcast eyes, and brick-red lacquer beneath worn gilding on the robes

Gilded wooden Buddha figure photographed from behind, standing upright in monastic robes with one hand lowered. Gold leaf surface shows areas of wear revealing reddish-orange lacquer beneath, with carved drapery folds trailing at the hem. Figure stands on a lotus pedestal atop a dark base.

Close-up detail of a polychrome wooden bodhisattva figure, showing layered robes in warm amber and gold tones with blue floral inlaid ornaments along the borders, one hand lowered with fingers gently extended, drapery carved with fluid, naturalistic folds.

Detail of a polychrome wood sculpture of a bodhisattva, showing the lower torso and one hand. Robes rendered in gold and reddish-brown with flowing drapery folds, decorated with intricate borders of blue inlaid floral motifs and delicate beaded patterns.

Close-up detail of a gilded standing Buddhist figure, showing draped robes in reddish-orange lacquer and gold with elaborately decorated borders inlaid with small blue, white, and green floral motifs and beaded edging; cascading fabric folds at center.

Gilded wooden Buddha figure, upper torso and face, with gold-leafed facial features and a red lacquered robe trimmed with inlaid floral mosaic decoration; ushnisha topped with red and jeweled band.

Wooden sculpture of a standing Buddha figure, lacquered in red-orange with gilded face and robe borders embellished with inlaid blue and white glass or gemstone floral motifs; ushnisha covered in textured red lacquer, robes depicted with layered, folded drapery.

Close-up of a gilded wooden Buddha figure, face and upper torso, with gold leaf surface, downcast eyes, and an ushnisha crown set with small mirrored glass mosaic inlay in pink, green, and blue; draped robe with embossed decorative border at right shoulder.

Close-up detail of a gilded devotional figure, showing elaborately decorated robes with inlaid mirror glass and blue, green, and silver mosaic floral motifs against gold-lacquered relief carving; red-painted outer robe draped over the gilded surface.

Detail of a gilded wooden Buddhist figure, showing the lower torso and one hand. Flowing robes in gold and reddish-orange lacquer with deeply carved drapery folds; garment borders decorated with gilt relief patterns and inlaid blue stones.

Close-up detail of a lacquered and gilt wooden sculpture, showing a downward-extended hand with elongated fingers and flowing robe drapery in orange-red lacquer with areas of worn gold leaf revealing underlying layers.

Close-up detail of a gilt wooden sculpture showing a downward-extended hand and sweeping robes with flared lower edge; worn gold and orange lacquer surface with visible age cracking and flaking.

Artist or Maker: Unknown
Title: Buddha Shakyamuni
Place Made: Myanmar (Burma), Mandalay
Date Made: circa 1850-1900
Medium: Wood with lacquer, gold leaf, inlaid with glass and foil-backed mirror rosettes, and shell or enamel eyes
Dimensions: 68 x 30 1/2 x 10 in. (172.72 x 77.47 x 25.4 cm)
Credit Line: Gift of Gerald Stockton and S. Louis Gaines
Accession Number: M.73.54.4
Classification: Sculpture
Collecting Area: South and Southeast Asian Art
Curatorial Notes: This elegant representation of Buddha Shakyamuni epitomizes the classic Mandalay style with its gentle smile and naturalistic features. He has the standard iconographic conventions of a Buddha: a cranial protuberance (ushnisha) emblematic of his omniscience, snail-curl hair, and elongated earlobes. His shorn hair and empty earlobes indicate his renunciation of his princely life when he wore long hair and heavy golden ear ornaments. A decorative band with a central floret is between his forehead and hair. He wears a monastic outer robe (uttarasanga) with stylized pleats over his left shoulder and borders of raised lacquer designs of scrolling vines, known as thayo work, and an inlaid mosaic of glass and foil-backed mirror rosettes. The robe cascades into a flaring bottom. The Buddha’s left hand holds his robe out to the side, while his right hand carries a myrobalan fruit between the thumb and middle finger. He stands on a lotus base.

Comparable Mandalay Buddhas are in the British Museum, London (1923,0305.1), Denison Museum, Granville (1989.79), and Kinský Palace, Prague (NG Vp 1626).

Related Unframed

Unknown
Buddha Shakyamunicirca 1850-1900

On view:

Geffen Galleries

Artist or Maker: Unknown
Title: Buddha Shakyamuni
Place Made: Myanmar (Burma), Mandalay
Date Made: circa 1850-1900
Medium: Wood with lacquer, gold leaf, inlaid with glass and foil-backed mirror rosettes, and shell or enamel eyes
Dimensions: 68 x 30 1/2 x 10 in. (172.72 x 77.47 x 25.4 cm)
Credit Line: Gift of Gerald Stockton and S. Louis Gaines
Accession Number: M.73.54.4
Classification: Sculpture
Collecting Area: South and Southeast Asian Art
Curatorial Notes: This elegant representation of Buddha Shakyamuni epitomizes the classic Mandalay style with its gentle smile and naturalistic features. He has the standard iconographic conventions of a Buddha: a cranial protuberance (ushnisha) emblematic of his omniscience, snail-curl hair, and elongated earlobes. His shorn hair and empty earlobes indicate his renunciation of his princely life when he wore long hair and heavy golden ear ornaments. A decorative band with a central floret is between his forehead and hair. He wears a monastic outer robe (uttarasanga) with stylized pleats over his left shoulder and borders of raised lacquer designs of scrolling vines, known as thayo work, and an inlaid mosaic of glass and foil-backed mirror rosettes. The robe cascades into a flaring bottom. The Buddha’s left hand holds his robe out to the side, while his right hand carries a myrobalan fruit between the thumb and middle finger. He stands on a lotus base.

Comparable Mandalay Buddhas are in the British Museum, London (1923,0305.1), Denison Museum, Granville (1989.79), and Kinský Palace, Prague (NG Vp 1626).