Thai Silver Votive Buddha
Silver Buddha Votive Offering
Thailand
19th century
height: 17cm
This image of the Buddha seated in the ‘calling the earth to witness’ position (Bhumisparshamudra) comprises a terracotta (or similar) base over which sheet silver has been hammered and chased.
Such images were commissioned by worshippers and given to monasteries and significant Thai temples (
wats) as acts of merit.
The example here is in the usual condition that older examples typically are found – with minor dents, losses to the silver sheet towards the base and so on – but these tend to add to such images’ naive charm.
References
Naengnoi Punjabhan, Silverware in Thailand, Rerngrom Publishing, 1991.
Provenance
UK art market
Inventory no.: 2969
SOLD
