A COPPER ALLOY AND LACQUER GILT FIGURE OF THE BUDDHA IN PARINIRVANA


Bangkok/Rattanakosin first period 1782-1851 CEcast copper alloy, gold lacquer, inlay of glass and shell48 x 90 x 46 cm. (18 7/8 x 35 3/8 x 18 1/8 in.)
|泰國 拉達納哥信王國第一時期/曼谷王朝 1782-1851年 銅鎏金漆器佛臥像Provenance:Private Collection, United KingdomLiterature:See further examples of Bangkok/Rattanakosin bronze lacquer images of the Buddha, addressed in Rod-Ari's article on Brocaded Buddhas of the Third Reign, fig. 1 to 5. (Rod-Ari, Melody. 'The Buddha as Sacred Siamese King: Brocaded Buddhas of the Third Reign' in Hall, Rebecca and Mintz, Robert, The Walters Art Museum Journal Vol. 73, 2018, fig. 1-5.)Heavily cast above a three-tiered lotus pedestal and profusely adorned with elaborate floral motifs and flaming borders, the Buddha reclines, dressed in an embroidered monk's robe in the courtly style of the period. He lies on his side, with his right hand supporting his head, smiling gently with faceted, heavy-lidded eyes inlaid with shell.Images of the Bangkok/Rattanakosin period generally followed the Ayutthaya tradition in religious art, some of which were unadorned, while others were elaborately decorated in exquisite ornamental detail, mirroring the style of the Thai Court.Rod-Ari, in her discussion on the use of decorated robes in Thai Buddhas of the 19th century, notes that "The use of such patterns was likely the result of their association with royalty, as floral patterns on articles of clothing were reserved for the exclusive use of the court." (Rod-Ari op. cit. p. 30)The term Parinirvana literally translates as 'nirvana-after-death'. In relation to the current lot, it is depicting the Parinirvana of Shakyamuni Buddha. Accounts of the purported events are found in a wide range of Buddhist canonical literature and further described in a number of later works, such as the Sanskrit Buddhacarita, whereby selected extracts of the Parinirvana of Shakyamuni Buddha is translated as the following:"The Buddha spoke further, advising the monks to keep the rules of the order of monks. Then he asked three times if any among them had any questions. Do not be given to remorse later on with the thought: 'The Master was with us face to face, yet face to face we failed to ask him.' But no-one spoke. The Buddha assured all of the monks they would realize enlightenment. Then he said, 'All compounded things are subject to decay. Strive with diligence'. Then, serenely, he passed into Parinirvana."(O'Brien, Barbara. 'Parinirvana: How the Historical Buddha Entered Nirvana.' ThoughtCo, Aug. 11, 2018, )Compare an 18th century example of a Thai gold and red lacquer-decorated Parinirvana of the Buddha sculpture on a silver pedestal (accession number: 66.86a.b) in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, bequeathed by Mrs George Nichols in 1966.