Pair of bronze Thepphanom – Thailand, Rattanakosin period

Pair of gilt bronze Thepphanom, Thailand, early Rattanakosin period (1782–1932). Very fine quality of execution, with influences from the Ayutthaya style visible in the faces and ornaments.

• These celestial figures, traditionally placed on either side of a Buddha or on an altar, embody spiritual protection and devotion.
• Provenance: Claude de Marteau collection.
  Sold with certificate.
• H 14 cm × W 9 cm × D 6 cm — Weight: 1505 g

Pair of bronze Thepphanom – Thailand, Rattanakosin period

This pair of Thai bronze Thepphanom represents celestial figures kneeling in a posture of veneration, hands joined in a sign of respect. These beings belong to the Thai Buddhist pantheon and accompany sacred figures in both a devotional and protective role.

Generally arranged in pairs, Thepphanom flank images of the Buddha or altars, emphasizing the spiritual dimension of the space. Their presence contributes to the ritual staging and sacralization of the place.

Their appearance is characteristic of Thai art: richly ornamented finery, decorated leggings, stylized motifs, and a tiered conical headdress, typical of royal or divine figures. This codified stylization reflects their status as celestial beings and their belonging to a hierarchical universe.

This pair of Thai bronze Thepphanom follows the tradition of the Rattanakosin period, while retaining influences from the Ayutthaya style, visible in the treatment of the faces and ornaments.

See also our selection of Thai sculptures.