Buddha bhūmisparśamudrā

A lacquered and gilded bronze statue of the Buddha sitting in the padmāsana posture, with his right hand towards the ground in a gesture of bhūmisparśamudrā. The elegant body, with narrow hips and broad but well-proportioned shoulders, is partly covered by the monastic robe across the left shoulder and arm, leaving the upper right portion of the bust free. The fabric is completely wrapped around the Buddha’s torso, also on the left-hand side, where the robe follows the contour of the side and the arm. A thin shawl also rests gently on the left shoulder. The feet are well defined, each resting on the opposite thigh with the soles facing upwards. The open left hand, with long, tapering fingers, is resting on the lap, also with the palm upwards. The right hand rests on the knee in an elegant and measured gesture. The full oval face has delicate features and large eyes, almost fully closed in meditation. The hair, culminating in a high uṣṇīṣa, is finely indicated by small spiral curls. A tall flame with a slender shape rises from the crown of the head. Although it belongs to the Ayudhya style, the sculpture, with its perfect bodily proportions, the small ūrṇā between the highly arched eyebrows, its slender nose and finely drawn mouth, together with the shape of the flame above the uṣṇīṣa, signifying the attainment of enlightenment, reflects the influence of the earlier Sukhothai style, in which a perfect balance had been achieved between expressive needs and the accentuated stylisation of the Buddha’s majesty.