Thai Gold & Silver Buddha

This tall image of the Buddha seated in the ‘calling the earth to witness’ position (Bhumisparshamudra) comprises a terracotta or resin base over which high-carat sheet gold has been hammered and chased for the actual Buddha, and sheet silver has been hammered and chased for the tiered throne.

Such images were commissioned by worshippers and given to monasteries and significant Thai or Cambodian temples (wats) as acts of merit. (Thailand had more than 33,000 active temples as of 2004 (Bromberg, 2019, p. 168).) Images of the Buddha are treated as substitutes for, rather than representations of, the Buddha and so are treated with great respect. Gold and silver are regarded as having particular spiritual purity so the combination of both metals in this images is especially significant.

The base of the example here has been chased with repeated leaf and flower motifs.

The front panel of the base has been lightly engraved with an inscription in Burmese script, probably identifying the donor. This is interesting in that it shows the way in which such images often did travel. Pilgrims would acquire them in one place and then donate them elsewhere.

The Buddha is in fine condition with minor losses associated with age.