Gold-plated Standing Buddha in Abhaya Mudra
Material: Brass
Origin: Ayutthaya, Thailand
Height: 36.5 cm
Code: TS-009
Mudra of blessing or protection. The right hand, held at shoulder level, is pointed upward with the palm facing out. Attributed to the Buddha immediately following his enlightenment, the Abhaya is usually intended as a gesture of reassurance.
The Buddha is shown standing, with feet jutting out towards the viewer and with elongated arms and realistically flowing robes. The image has many of the classical features of a U-Thong or early Ayutthaya period Buddha - the hair curls are small and densely packed; the unisha is low and relatively broad; the face is square with a realistic cleft chin; the eyes are half-closed and contemplative; the eyebrows are arched; the mouth is wide; the neck is short and thick; the body is well proportioned; the groove on the elongated earlobes is open and the lobes almost reach the shoulders; the outline of the undergarment belt is clearly visible; the robes cover both shoulders, which is typical for standing depictions of the Buddha of this period.