Siam / Thailand | Rattanakosin period | 19th century | Copper alloy | H 40.5 × W 31.5 cm | 4.8 kg
This 19th-century Thai Shakyamuni Buddha is distinguished by its inlaid eyes, high flame-shaped ushnisha and broad stepped lotus base. The Buddha sits in meditation with both hands resting in the lap in dhyana mudra.
The sculpture combines Rattanakosin-period taste with references to earlier Thai forms. Its gold-toned surface has worn unevenly through handling and cleaning, while turquoise-green copper corrosion is concentrated around the hair curls and other protected areas.
Inlaid eyes and meditative iconography
The light eye material and dark pupils give the face an unusually focused expression. The long earlobes, lowered gaze and symmetrical hand position reinforce the meditative character of the image.
Technical observations
Macrophotography, digital microscopy and 365 nm ultraviolet examination have documented traditional casting and polishing marks, copper-related corrosion, an internal mineral casting core and age-related changes around the eye inlays. These observations are useful supporting evidence for the sculpture's manufacture and surface history, but no single test is treated as proof of date on its own.
Key details
Subject: Shakyamuni Buddha
Origin: Siam / Thailand
Period: Rattanakosin, 19th century
Material: Copper alloy
Distinctive feature: Inlaid eyes
Mudra: Dhyana
Dimensions: H 40.5 × W 31.5 cm
Weight: 4.8 kg
Condition
The historic surface shows wear to the gold-toned finish, turquoise and darker corrosion, small scratches, casting irregularities and old residues. The tip of the ushnisha has an old loss or damage. The open underside retains part of the casting core. Detailed photographs document these features closely.
