Country Group: South and Southeast Asia (Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam)

Item id: 1283

One of my very best- a fine and rare 18/19th century Northern Thai Buddha cast in 3 different alloys- one for the Buddha, one for most of the base, and one for the band around the bottom of the base. I had been told many years ago by a Thai collector that there were some large Buddhas cast in 3 different metals for mystical alchemical reasons, but this is the first and only piece I have ever come across which is constructed this way. He has a wonderful face- one of my all time favorite faces- joyful and light, and at the same time filled with equanimity and calm. The surface almost glows. He is more thinly cast than most Buddhas of the period; perhaps because of the very special alloys used, which likely contain precious metals. He is large at 19 inches when in his base.There are some original casting flaws- these are part of the original manufacture.