A BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA MARAVIJAYA, KAMPHAENG PHET STYLE, EARLY AYUTTHAYA PERIOD, 15TH-16TH
A BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA MARAVIJAYA, KAMPHAENG PHET STYLE, EARLY AYUTTHAYA PERIOD, 15TH-16TH CENTURY
Thailand. Seated in virasana atop an integral high molded throne, the right hand in bhumisparsamudra, his left resting in his lap in dhyanamudra, dressed in an uttarasanga which covers the left shoulder and crosses the chest diagonally. The face with an introspective expression, with accentuated pouting lips, heavy-lidded eyes beneath arched eyebrows, an aquiline nose, flanked by elongated earlobes, the hair arranged in rows of small tight curls over the domed ushnisha and surmounted by a tall flame-form finial.
The distinctive integral throne is formed with a projecting upper platform above deeply concave molded registers, the broad continuous front finely decorated with a scrolling motif, and the reverse supported by a single central projecting foot.
Provenance: Collection of Olivier Maréchal, Belgium. Olivier Maréchal (b. 1973) is a noted Belgian collector and dealer specializing in the arts of India, Vietnam, and Thailand. He began his career in the mid-1990s, learning from his father who helped him with his first purchases. He later managed Surya Gallery in Brussels, Belgium.
Condition: Very good condition with expected wear and casting irregularities. Small nicks, minor dings, and tiny losses along the edges of the feet and top of the finial. The bronze with a naturally grown patina and scattered encrustations. Much of the earthen casting core is preserved within the base.
Weight: 2,041 g.
Dimensions: Height 28.5 cm
A pervasive stillness permeates this accomplished sculpture, depicting Buddha in his moment of triumph over Mara, and awakening into an eternally blissful consciousness. It is rendered in the Kamphaeng Phet style, which echoes that of neighboring Sukhothai, but with subtle differences, such as sharper overall facial features and eyebrows that form a continuous line above the bridge of the nose. In this example, superior quality is evinced in the meticulous execution of the flame finial, small curls, and elegant fingers.
Literally meaning 'diamond wall', Kamphaeng Phet was a walled city of pivotal economic and military importance. Founded by the Sukhothai King Li Thai (c. 1346-74) in the mid-14th century, it was ideally situated for river trade with Southern Burma, the Lan Na kingdom, and the Chao Phraya basin of Central Thailand. Numerous temples and monasteries were established there, many producing distinctive Buddha images in bronze and terracotta. Later absorbed into the Ayutthaya Kingdom, Kamphaeng Phet served as a crucial fortress and strategic buffer in stymieing Burmese advances on the Ayutthayan capital during the Burmese-Siamese wars (16th-19th centuries). Today the remains of the city form part of the Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park.
Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related bronze figure of Buddha, dated “ca. 21st century BE [Buddhist Era]” corresponding to 1458-1557 AD, 30.2 cm high, in the Kamphaeng Phet National Museum.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 4 May 2026, lot 1043
Mid-Estimate: HKD 250,000 or approx. EUR 27,500 converted at the time of writing
Description: A copper alloy figure of Buddha, Thailand, Kamphaeng Phet, 15th century
Expert remark: Compare the related modeling and manner of casting with similar facial features. Note the larger size (44 cm).
Sale price
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
A BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA MARAVIJAYA, KAMPHAENG PHET STYLE, EARLY AYUTTHAYA PERIOD, 15TH-16TH CENTURY
Thailand. Seated in virasana atop an integral high molded throne, the right hand in bhumisparsamudra, his left resting in his lap in dhyanamudra, dressed in an uttarasanga which covers the left shoulder and crosses the chest diagonally. The face with an introspective expression, with accentuated pouting lips, heavy-lidded eyes beneath arched eyebrows, an aquiline nose, flanked by elongated earlobes, the hair arranged in rows of small tight curls over the domed ushnisha and surmounted by a tall flame-form finial.
The distinctive integral throne is formed with a projecting upper platform above deeply concave molded registers, the broad continuous front finely decorated with a scrolling motif, and the reverse supported by a single central projecting foot.
Provenance: Collection of Olivier Maréchal, Belgium. Olivier Maréchal (b. 1973) is a noted Belgian collector and dealer specializing in the arts of India, Vietnam, and Thailand. He began his career in the mid-1990s, learning from his father who helped him with his first purchases. He later managed Surya Gallery in Brussels, Belgium.
Condition: Very good condition with expected wear and casting irregularities. Small nicks, minor dings, and tiny losses along the edges of the feet and top of the finial. The bronze with a naturally grown patina and scattered encrustations. Much of the earthen casting core is preserved within the base.
Weight: 2,041 g.
Dimensions: Height 28.5 cm
A pervasive stillness permeates this accomplished sculpture, depicting Buddha in his moment of triumph over Mara, and awakening into an eternally blissful consciousness. It is rendered in the Kamphaeng Phet style, which echoes that of neighboring Sukhothai, but with subtle differences, such as sharper overall facial features and eyebrows that form a continuous line above the bridge of the nose. In this example, superior quality is evinced in the meticulous execution of the flame finial, small curls, and elegant fingers.
Literally meaning 'diamond wall', Kamphaeng Phet was a walled city of pivotal economic and military importance. Founded by the Sukhothai King Li Thai (c. 1346-74) in the mid-14th century, it was ideally situated for river trade with Southern Burma, the Lan Na kingdom, and the Chao Phraya basin of Central Thailand. Numerous temples and monasteries were established there, many producing distinctive Buddha images in bronze and terracotta. Later absorbed into the Ayutthaya Kingdom, Kamphaeng Phet served as a crucial fortress and strategic buffer in stymieing Burmese advances on the Ayutthayan capital during the Burmese-Siamese wars (16th-19th centuries). Today the remains of the city form part of the Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park.
Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related bronze figure of Buddha, dated “ca. 21st century BE [Buddhist Era]” corresponding to 1458-1557 AD, 30.2 cm high, in the Kamphaeng Phet National Museum.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 4 May 2026, lot 1043
Mid-Estimate: HKD 250,000 or approx. EUR 27,500 converted at the time of writing
Description: A copper alloy figure of Buddha, Thailand, Kamphaeng Phet, 15th century
Expert remark: Compare the related modeling and manner of casting with similar facial features. Note the larger size (44 cm).
Sale price
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
