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Bronze
Standing Kymer Buddhas These standing crowned bronze Buddhas have been delicately hand crafted using the ancient ‘lost wax’ production technique. These images are representative of the Kymer art period of the 12th century. We can trace these particular images to the Buddhist temple in Phimai that was built in the late 11th and early 12th centuries in Northeastern Thailand. Craftsmen, who belonged to the cosmopolitan mainstream, built the temple of Phimai at a time of political weakness at Angkor. But it reflects a streak of ideological independence and was dedicated to Tantric or Vajrayana Buddhism, of a sophisticated sort that suggests contact with the Buddhist centers of Bihar or Bengal. The crown, no doubt, was a sign, as in India, of the attainment of complete Buddha hood according to Vajrayana belief. These images show the Buddha in three different postures one is the begging Buddha holding the alms bowl, another with one hand held out in front is the posture of ‘stopping the relatives from fighting’ and the last shows the Buddha overcoming conflict. |
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BD-040 Size: 7x26" |
BD-041 Size: 7x26" |
BD-042 Size: 7x26" |
Bronze
Japanese Buddha This sitting Japanese bronze Buddha is a great example of what the Japanese call ‘Nyorai’. As with this statue, Nyorai statues usually wear plain priest’s clothes, have no accessories and hold nothing in their hands. The lump on its forehead is a reminder of Buddhism’s origin in Hinduism. Although many Japanese Buddhist icons are highly elaborate this particular piece’s simplicity is its beauty.
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