Southeast Asia, Burma (Myanmar), ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. A lacquered wood Buddha in the Mandalay style with shimmering inlays of glass and painted red with golden metallic hues. He is seated on an integral pedestal in full lotus position, his hands forming the earth witness mudra gesture, his right hand resting on his knee reaching towards the ground, and his other hand in his lap. He wears lavish robes, the naturalistic folds of the drapery cascade around the legs and over his shoulders. Size: 22" L x 20" W x 27.5" H (55.9 cm x 50.8 cm x 69.8 cm)

The Buddha displays the Calling Earth to Witness mudra, also known as Subduing Mara or Bhumisparsa representing the moment just prior to enlightenment, with the Buddha sitting in meditation, his left hand in his lap with palm upright, and his right hand palm downward touching the earth. At the moment just before Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment, the demon Mara viciously attacked him with his troops of monsters attempting to scare him away from his seat under the bodhi tree. However, the Buddha-to-be remained. Mara claimed that his spiritual deeds were greater than Siddhartha’s challenging the Buddha-to-be. Then Siddhartha extended his right hand to touch the earth, Mara disappeared, and Siddhartha achieved enlightenment.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection, acquired from 2000 to 2010

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#180732

Repaired, with arm reattached at shoulder and finger reattached. Visible break lines and stable pressure fissures throughout. Losses to glass inlays on head and throughout the body, with flaking and losses to pigment as shown.