13thC Burmese Buddha Pagan Buddha with Ava Influence. Formidable, Charismatic
This striking 13th-century Burmese standing bronze Buddha represents a powerful late Pagan-period sculpture infused with early Ava stylistic influences. Thickly cast and commanding in presence, the figure exemplifies the transition between two important phases of Burmese Buddhist art, combining the solidity of Pagan aesthetics with emerging Ava refinement. In person, the sculpture conveys remarkable visual and physical weight, underscoring the confidence and mastery of its casting.
The most extraordinary feature of this Buddha is the treatment of the robe. The rippling folds, derived from sculptural traditions reaching back to the first millennium, were executed using an exceptionally rare and labor-intensive technique. Rather than being incised or molded as part of the original casting, each individual ripple was separately applied atop the robe surface. This method is known from a very small number of early bronzes but is virtually unheard of on a large-scale standing Pagan Buddha...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Antique Burmese Furniture