A FINE INSCRIBED LACQUERED BRONZE STATUE OF BUDDHA SHAKYAMUNI, KONBAUNG DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY

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A FINE INSCRIBED LACQUERED BRONZE STATUE OF BUDDHA SHAKYAMUNI, KONBAUNG DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY This lot is from a single owner collection and is therefore offered without reserve Expert’s note: The present bronze belongs to the mature sculptural tradition of the Konbaung period (1752-1885) and may be dated to the 18th century. The image displays several hallmarks of Burmese court-sponsored Buddhist sculpture of the period, including its elegant elongated proportions, gently oval face with lowered gaze, long pendulous earlobes, and the fluid rendering of the monastic robe cascading in rhythmic folds across the body. While these features would later be further refined in the celebrated Mandalay style of the 19th century, the present work retains the restrained modeling and harmonious balance characteristic of earlier Konbaung-period bronzes. The later dedicatory inscription, dated to late 1907, further attests to the continued veneration and spiritual significance of the image. Burma. Heavily cast, seated in dhyanasana atop a tiered base with the right hand lowered in bhumisparsha mudra and the left above his lap, wearing long flowing robes cascading in voluminous folds. His serene face with downcast eyes in shell and lacquer, and full lips forming a calm smile, flanked by long pendulous earlobes, the hair in tight curls secured by a band above his forehead with remnants of mirror glass inlays. The front of the base meticulously punched with a dedicatory inscription in two lines of Burmese script: In the year 1269 of the Myanmar Era, on the eighth day of the waning moon of Tazaungmon [corresponding to late 1907], Ma Nyunt and Ma Han, daughters of U Htun Yaung—the donor-patron of the Great Buddha—and Me Tint, its female patron, residents of Mingin, dedicated this [Buddha image] for worship and veneration as a meritorious deed. May this merit lead to the attainment of Nibbāna. May devas and human beings rejoice and say ‘Sādhu!’ Important Note: For essential information on the Jorgen Ruben Gallery Ledger and provenance documentation please visit here: www.zacke.at/rubencollection_ledger Dimensions: Height 77.5 cm This finely cast image exemplifies the refinement of Konbaung-period Buddhist sculpture in Burma during the 18th century. Founded in 1752, the Konbaung dynasty fostered a flourishing artistic tradition that synthesized earlier Burmese sculptural forms into a distinctive court style characterized by elegant proportions, serene expression, and sophisticated bronze casting. These artistic developments laid the foundation for the later Mandalay style, which emerged during the final decades of the Burmese kingdom in the 19th century. Here the historical Buddha Shakyamuni performs bhumisparshamudra, the gesture summoning the earth to witness his enlightenment against the evil temptations of the demon king Mara. While the treatment of the Buddha's robes conveys a quiver, as if shaken by the vibrations of his realization, it could also suggest the presence of the earth goddess, affirmed by virtue of the fluid swirls and folds of the garment stylized as cascades and waterfalls which merge into the flowing river of his hem. In the Tai regions, the earth deity is known as Nang Thoranee or Mae Thoranee: “lady earth” or “mother earth.” Unique to Southeast Asia, she is associated with water and waterfalls, arising from the amalgamation of indigenous traditions with Hindu-Buddhist beliefs. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related Burmese bronze Buddha, dated to the 18th century, 71.1 cm high, in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, accession number 96.54.1. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Van Ham Cologne, 3 December 2015, lot 366 Price: EUR 38,700 or approx. EUR 51,000 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling and manner of casting with similar pose, robe, facial features, and patina. Note the inscription and larger size (112 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 29 March 2019, lot 41 Price: HKD 250,625 or approx. EUR 31,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the related modeling, manner of casting, and lacquering, with similar pose and expression. Note the size (100 cm).

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