Object Details
Catalogue Note
An antique Thai bronze Buddha seated in Bhumisparsha Mudra, the earth-touching gesture associated with the moment of enlightenment. The figure has the calm frontal balance typical of Thai devotional sculpture around the turn of the 20th century.
Earth-touching Buddha
The right hand reaches toward the ground while the left rests in the lap, turning the seated image into a direct reference to Shakyamuni’s awakening beneath the Bodhi tree.
Object details
- Estimated period: Late 19th to early 20th century, around 1900
- Origin: Thailand
- Material: Bronze
- Mudra: Bhumisparsha Mudra
Iconography and Context
Bhumisparsha Mudra is the earth-touching gesture associated with Shakyamuni calling the earth to witness his awakening. The lowered right hand turns the stable seated image into a direct reference to the moment of Enlightenment.
Condition and Display
The bronze surface shows the tonal variation, patina and raised-detail wear described in the catalogue note. The 9 photographs document the sculpture from multiple angles, including the reverse and base.
