Seated Lan Na Buddha

Northern Thailand               SOLD

Lan Na Kingdom, 15th–16th century

Bronze with traces of gilding and a rich, time-worn patina

With inscription on the base

H23 x W14cm  

Provenance: Old Thai collection

Lan Na, also written Lanna, which means “Kingdom of a Million Rice Fields” was a powerful and culturally rich kingdom in what is now northern Thailand, centered around Chiang Mai. It flourished from the 13th to the 18th century and played a major role in the production of bronze statuary in the Buddhist tradition.

This finely cast bronze sculpture depicts the Buddha in bhūmisparśa mudrā, the earth-touching gesture, symbolizing the moment of enlightenment. The Lan Na tradition of Northern Thailand shows the Buddha displaying a solid, compact form with broad shoulders, high-arched eyebrows, and a hooked nose, giving the face a striking profile and meditative intensity. The slightly upturned lips suggest a meditative inner joy, the accentuated chin adds presence and a subtle authority to the serene Buddha. His chest is fully inflated with prana or yogic breath. The bud-like finial atop the ushnisha (cranial protuberance) and the sharply defined lips further reflect the distinctive aesthetics of the Lan Na school.

The base bears an inscription in ancient Thai script, most probably indicating the donor, a temple or an act of merit-making. 

Despite its modest scale, this figure embodies the spiritual intensity and sculptural refinement of Lan Na Buddhist art.