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

Item id: 137

One of my most special pieces: I originally bought this as being from Sri Lanka, but something was different than any Lankan Buddha I had seen. After doing some reseach and showing it to a few knowledgable people I have come to believe that is a Burmese emulation of a Sri Lankan Buddha made during the Post Pagan Era in Arakan. The figures on the mandorla appear to be Burmese spirits or Nats. The construction is consistent with early Burmese pieces. Apparently, many Lankan Buddhist teachers and artisans came to Burma during that time, as Sri Lanka was the center of Theravadan Buddhism. I have seen (and own) a few very small Lanka" style Burmese Buddhas from that time