An alabaster Buddha under the Bodhi tree

Ava period, 18th-19th century

Alabaster with remains of pigment and natural patina

H18cm

Provenance: Private German collection 

This charming sculpture shows the historical Buddha, seated in bhumisparsha mudra, beneath the Bodhi Tree. This tree, according to Buddhist tradition, is the specific sacred fig under which the Buddha sat when he attained Enlightenment at Bodh Gaya in Bihar, India. The fig tree has a distinctive heart-shaped leaf, clearly visible in the statue. The throne, where the Buddha is seated on, is sculpted in a delicate way with incised diamond pattern, evoking the woven texture of a ritual mat. The wide ears of the Buddha are carved harmoniously in the canopy of the tree.

The simplicity of the carving, with its subtle modelling of the face and body, reflects the refined aesthetic of the Ava workshops.  Sculptors used alabaster, coming from the Sagyin quarries near Mandalay, for its purity and fine grain. 

SOLD