Large Burmese Standing Buddha in Pātra-Mudrā (163cm)

Large standing Burmese Buddha in lacquered and gilded wood, depicted in pātra-mudrā. Mandalay period sculpture (19th century), with a strong presence and beautiful quality of execution.

• Provenance: Claude de Marteau collection.
• Sold with certificate.
  Dimensions: H 163 × W 45 × D 26 cm — Weight: approx. 44 kg.

Standing Burmese Buddha in pātra-mudrā – Mandalay Period

This Burmese image of the standing Buddha is depicted in pātra-mudrā, a gesture associated with receiving offerings. The Buddha originally held an alms bowl, in which the faithful placed food and gifts, directly echoing monastic practice.

In the Theravāda tradition, this iconography refers to a life of humility, discipline, and voluntary dependence on the generosity of the laity. It highlights the fundamental link between the monastic community and the faithful, structuring religious practice in Burma.

The sculpture is made of lacquered and gilded wood, resting on a base adorned with stylized lotus petals. The treatment of the face, the fluidity of the silhouette, and the richness of the surfaces are consistent with the Mandalay style aesthetic, characteristic of the late 19th century.

Founded in 1857 by King Mindon, Mandalay became a major center for artistic and religious production. Workshops there developed a recognizable formal language, marked by great finesse in execution and a particular devotional intensity.

In this context, representations of the standing Buddha occupy an important place. The balance of proportions, the softness of the expression, and the quality of the gilding reflect a desire to embody a presence that is both accessible and transcendent.

The ushnisha flame may not be original, although it was found attached to the sculpture in the Claude de Marteau collection.

Burma, Mandalay period, 19th century.

His hands in pātra-mudrā, a gesture of accepting offerings, once held an alms bowl in which the faithful placed theirs.

Bibliography: Burmese Buddhist Sculpture – The Johan Möger Collection, Otto Karow, White Lotus, p. 152.

Other Burmese Buddha statues can be viewed at this link.