An 18th/19thC Burmese Marble Seated Buddha Statue
This exceptional 18th-to-19th-century Burmese statue depicts a seated Buddha expertly hand-carved from true Sagyin white marble—traditionally termed alabaster—and captured in the sacred Bhumisparsha mudra, or Earth Witness gesture, representing the moment of enlightenment. Exhibiting stylistic traits of the historic Shan and Ava traditions, the figure features an elongated, graceful torso, a tall flame-like ushnisha topknot, and a serene, softly rounded facial expression with delicately downcast eyes. Reflecting its rich devotional history and over 150 years of natural aging, the statue retains vibrant patches of original 24-karat gold leaf gilding across its chest and shoulders, while the reverse side reveals a heavily flaked, beautifully oxidized dark reddish-brown tree-lacquer (thitsi) undercoat. Standing at an impressive total height of 17 inches on its elevated presentation base, this piece serves as a striking and historically significant example of late Konbaung-dynasty sacred craftsmanship. Total Height: 17 inches; Marble height: 15 inches. Length: 9.5 inches ' Width: 4 inches.
Condition
Good antique condition, consistent with age, use, and a long history of devotional veneration.Significant, expected degradation to the original surface layers. The front face retains prominent, vibrant patches of original 24-karat gold leaf gilding, displaying a soft, natural oxidation.The reverse side features heavy, stable flaking and cratered pitting of the dark reddish-brown tree-lacquer (thitsi) undercoat, completely exposing areas of the bare stone underneath.The marble carving itself remains structurally sound with no major cracks, structural breaks, or modern restorations to the stone body or facial features. Minor, historic micro-chipping and pitting are present on the raw, unpolished underside of the throne base.
This exceptional 18th-to-19th-century Burmese statue depicts a seated Buddha expertly hand-carved from true Sagyin white marble—traditionally termed alabaster—and captured in the sacred Bhumisparsha mudra, or Earth Witness gesture, representing the moment of enlightenment. Exhibiting stylistic traits of the historic Shan and Ava traditions, the figure features an elongated, graceful torso, a tall flame-like ushnisha topknot, and a serene, softly rounded facial expression with delicately downcast eyes. Reflecting its rich devotional history and over 150 years of natural aging, the statue retains vibrant patches of original 24-karat gold leaf gilding across its chest and shoulders, while the reverse side reveals a heavily flaked, beautifully oxidized dark reddish-brown tree-lacquer (thitsi) undercoat. Standing at an impressive total height of 17 inches on its elevated presentation base, this piece serves as a striking and historically significant example of late Konbaung-dynasty sacred craftsmanship. Total Height: 17 inches; Marble height: 15 inches. Length: 9.5 inches ' Width: 4 inches.
Condition
Good antique condition, consistent with age, use, and a long history of devotional veneration.Significant, expected degradation to the original surface layers. The front face retains prominent, vibrant patches of original 24-karat gold leaf gilding, displaying a soft, natural oxidation.The reverse side features heavy, stable flaking and cratered pitting of the dark reddish-brown tree-lacquer (thitsi) undercoat, completely exposing areas of the bare stone underneath.The marble carving itself remains structurally sound with no major cracks, structural breaks, or modern restorations to the stone body or facial features. Minor, historic micro-chipping and pitting are present on the raw, unpolished underside of the throne base.
