Burmese Buddha statue in gilded wood – 187 cm

Burmese Gilded Wood Buddha Statue, carved from solid wood on its lotus-form base, Myanmar, Mandalay period, 19th century.

• Although it stands upright, this ancient Buddha statue needs to be fixed to a wall or pedestal.
• Provenance: Estate of the dealer and collector Claude de Marteau.
• Sold with certificate.
• H 186 cm x W 80 cm x D 26 cm

Large Burmese Buddha in gilded wood

This large wood-carved Buddha figure presents a natural and balanced posture. The serene face forms a slight smile, while the glass eyes lend the whole a particularly vivid and direct presence. The expression, simultaneously gentle and penetrating, is characteristic of Burmese works from the Mandalay period, where youthful features and an open gaze contribute to an aesthetic focused on accessibility and benevolence.

An intense inward gaze, a sculptural quality found only in ancient Buddha statues.

The sculpture is crafted from lacquered and gilded wood in accordance with the Theravada tradition, richly adorned with glass inlays. The Buddha holds a fold of his monastic robe (uttarasanga) in his left hand, while the right hand presents the myrobalan fruit, an allusion to the Buddha’s healing power.

The surface shows old wear, including stable cracks in the robe consistent with the piece’s age. A period restoration is visible at the lotus base (see photographs).

The hands are removable and are not currently attached to make transport easier.

Mandalay Buddhas, generally dated to the 19th century, embody a particularly accomplished interpretation of Burmese Buddhist art. The garments are often enhanced with floral decoration and relief motifs, made using the thayo technique and embellished with mirrored glass inlays.

Archive photographs show these sculptures in Claude de Marteau’s collection, where they were kept for several decades before being rediscovered.

Archival photographs of Buddha statues found at Claude de Marteau’s.

A series of antique Burmese Buddha statues at Claude de Marteau’s.

You can also view other Burmese sculptures via this link.