#myanmarbuddha

Mounted on a simple lotus base, this standing Buddha is in the classic style portraying the Buddha's facial features and robes that developed during the late eighteenth century. This continues to be the prevalent mode of representation today. Unlike earlier images, such standing figures were not always carved from a single block of wood. The hands and/or flared sides of the lower robe were often carved separately and later dovetailed with joints filled in and lacquered over. The torso of the Buddha is completely enveloped in an elaborately draped cape like outer robe (uttarasanga) that terminates around the hemlines in cascades of flaring overlapping folds finished with bands of raised lacquer scrolling. The shoulder cloth (sanghati) is similarly decorated. Monks in Myanmar wear their robes in this way when going outside the monastery on the morning alms rounds and to other events. The hands are in a variant of the varada mudra – a gesture of benevolence. The right hand of the statue holds the myrobalan fruit (terminalia chebula), suggestive of the physical and spiritual healing powers of the Buddha. NOTE: This is a replica of the famous Konagamana Buddha at Ananda Temple in Pagan (Bagan), Myanmar.

These two beautiful antique alabaster statues of Lord Buddha with their rounded face, shoulder-touching earlobes, and finial atop a broad, low ushnisha are typical of the late Ava dynasty in Myanmar (Burma). The sculptures are mounted on a high-waisted double lotus throne with carved painted petals.