Seated Buddha Sculpture

Media: Wood carving with pigments
Cat no: BSARW001
Origin: Southern Laos
Age: 19th c
Measurement (WxDxH): 15x10x42.5"

Carved in a village style, the Buddha is seated on a raised throne in a "heroic posture" (virasana) with his legs folded over each other. His hands are in the gesture of Bhumisparsha mudra, which means calling the earth to witness his steadfastness. The execution of the carving and pigment decoration is primitive. This is in sharp contrast with the Buddha images found in the formal temples setting, indicating a rather formal, perhaps a rural setting where the worship took place. There is discernible Thai script written in the façade of the throne. It says: xxx (someone’s name) donated this Buddha in the year of 24xx (the current year of 2007 is 2550 in Thai Calendar). The line on the bottom is no longer readable. Some regions of nowadays Southern Laos were part of Thailand in the 19th century before the border demarcation was imposed by Britain and France at the turn of the 20th century.  Therefore although the item was collected in Southern Loas, it was made originally by Thai.