Thailand – Kingdom of Ayutthaya Bronze / copper alloy...

Important fragment of a standing bronze Buddha figure, attributed to the Ayutthaya kingdom, in central Thailand, and probably datable from the 16th to the first half of the 17th century. Despite its fragmentary state, this sculpture retains a particularly strong presence. The head and upper body are remarkably legible and concentrate the main characteristics of the sculptural language of Ayutthaya's middle period. The face, of great serenity, features lowered eyes beneath long eyebrow arches, a straight and slender nose, a delicately drawn mouth and long earlobes. The hair is treated as a multitude of small tight curls surrounding an elevated uṣṇīṣa extended by a tall crown flame, a major characteristic of Thai Buddhist statuary. The monastic garment is rendered with great economy of line and closely fits the body. The preserved folds of the drapery, the slender silhouette and the sobriety of the modeling still attest to the heritage of the Sukhothai tradition, integrated here into the vocabulary proper to Ayutthaya sculpture. The sculpture is made in hollow bronze with a core. Ancient fractures allow observation of the internal structure and traces of core material in places. The surface shows a beautiful old patina from dark brown to black, nuanced with brown tones and dotted with green oxides and earthy inlays. The fragmentary state does not hamper the readability of the work: on the contrary, the preservation of the face, head and torso gives this piece a sculptural and almost archaeological presence that is particularly appealing. The significant old losses emphasize the silhouette without altering the essential stylistic elements that allow its attribution. The characteristics of the face, hair, uṣṇīṣa and the crown flame find convincing correspondences in Thai museum collections dedicated to the middle Ayutthaya period. An ancient sculpture of character, simultaneously decorative and historically representative of one of the great traditions of Thai Buddhist bronze. Dimensions without base: 38 × 15.5 × 6.7 cm. Weight without base: 2 kg. Height with base: 44.5 cm. Base: 16.5 × 8 cm. video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/f5aqs5bc5th0c4hy0myyq/ALaogdQuyDhwjmha8aCnJQg?rlkey=r5h1s5xspygh8o5840yizoyij&dl=0

Estimation:€8,800

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