A LAOTIAN BRONZE RECLINING FIGURE OF BUDDHA

A LAOTIAN BRONZE RECLINING FIGURE OF BUDDHA
19TH CENTURY, PROBABLY FROM VIENTIANE

With a deep brown patina, the figure reclines in parinirvana on a rectangular dais with a double lotus border, his face is tranquil and smiling, his right arm supports his head and his left lies in a relaxed posture, 4.5kg, 31.5cm.

The subject matter of this image is the passage of the Buddha into Nirvana. He lies down on a royal couch in the sala grove of the Malla kings beside the Hirannavati River. Surrounded by his faithful monks he utters his final words: "Everything is subject to change; strive on without delay" and at dawn on the following day passed into the great Nirvana. The Laotian kingdom of Lan Xang or Lan Chang was established during the 14th century and ruled by Thais. Its northern capital of Luang Prabang was subjected to cultural influences from the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai, while its southern capital, Vientiane, absorbed Khmer and Ayutthaya motifs.

For a closely related bronze parinirvana Buddha see S Lopetcharat, Lao Buddha: The Image and Its History, Bangkok, p.229.