Country Group:

Item id: 8178

18th Century, Possibly Earlier — Very Large and Exceptionally Heavy Sri Lankan Kandy-Style Buddha. With echoes of much earlier Lankan styles, this is an unusually massive and powerful example of the Kandy tradition. The figure measures 9.75 inches tall without finial or base (which would bring it to 15+ inches), 11.5 inches on its custom stand, and nearly 10 inches wide at the knees. Because Sri Lankan Buddhas have been required to be solid-cast for nearly a millennium, this is close to the maximum size seated bronzes could realistically reach during the period—making its scale and weight especially impressive. It is incredibly heavy, far more so than the photographs suggest; at 61 years old, I cannot lift it alone.



Several stylistic elements—particularly the face, ears, and body proportions—clearly relate to Lankan Buddhas from 500–800 years earlier, giving this work a distinctive character unusual for the Kandy period. Unlike typical Kandy Buddhas with ears that flare outward, this example shows flatter, pulled-back ears in line with earlier Sinhala forms. Likewise, instead of the slender, androgynous bodies typical of later Kandy sculpture, this figure displays broad shoulders and thick, powerful arms, conveying a distinctly masculine presence reminiscent of early Sri Lankan bronzes. Should the dating prove significantly earlier than the 18th century, the value would increase substantially. A rare, monumental, and culturally important piece—striking in both form and physical presence.