A MAGNIFICENT BRONZE TORSO OF BUDDHA, SUKHOTHAI PERIOD, 13TH-14TH CENTURY

拍品描述

A MAGNIFICENT BRONZE TORSO OF BUDDHA, SUKHOTHAI PERIOD, 13TH-14TH CENTURY This lot is from a single owner collection and is therefore offered without reserve Thailand. Elegantly modeled and superbly cast, the figure exhibits a slender, graceful form with subtle detailing of the abdomen and waist and is dressed in a garment rendered with simple lines that fall naturally along the body. Important Note: For essential information on the Jorgen Ruben Gallery Ledger and provenance documentation please visit here: www.zacke.at/rubencollection_ledger Dimensions: Height 36.3 cm (excl. stand), 37.4 cm (incl. stand) With an associated modern stand. (2) Expert’s note: The plain, flat reverse of the bronze torso indicates that the figure was very likely originally conceived as part of a relief composition. In the 13th and 14th centuries, Ayutthaya was still in its formative stages, emerging from the decline of the Khmer Empire and absorbing influences from Sukhothai, Lopburi, and other regional powers. The kingdom consolidated control over the Chao Phraya basin, laying the groundwork for what would become one of Southeast Asia’s greatest capitals. This era was marked by expanding trade networks across the Bay of Bengal and the South China Sea, bringing wealth and foreign envoys to the rising court. At the same time, Buddhist devotion flourished, with temples and monasteries multiplying, and sculptural styles blending Khmer solidity with the graceful naturalism of Sukhothai, setting the stage for Ayutthaya’s later artistic zenith. The simplicity of the present bronze torso, with its restrained modeling and absence of ornament, reflects precisely this early Ayutthaya period. Sculpture of this time was closely aligned with Sukhothai prototypes, favoring clarity of form and an emphasis on balanced proportions rather than decorative detail. Such restraint was not only in keeping with Buddhist ideals of detachment but also marked a deliberate shift away from the elaborate Khmer styles that had previously dominated the region. In this way, the torso embodies the formative character of early Ayutthaya art, defined by clarity, authority, and a new cultural identity. Literature comparison: Compare a related bronze torso, Lopburi or Sukhothai period, 13-th-14th century or earlier, Thailand, 28 cm tall, formerly in the collection of Ernst Vorezsch and now in the Museum Angewandte Kunst, Frankfurt am Main, reference number 12724. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s New York, 8 February 2017, lot 58 Price: USD 47,500 or approx. EUR 56,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling and manner of casting. Note the much larger size (61 cm).

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