Chiang Saen

The courage and self-confidence arising from the Buddha’s Victory over Mara (maravijaya) accounts for the faint pall of scorn veiling the enlightened countenance, even in meditation. The vigor of Thai art often derives from just such a sense of spiritual self assurance and invincibility, the very opposite of the effete pessimism falsely attributed to the Buddha’s teachings by his critics. The Lanna School of northern Thailand embodies the innocence and vitality at the beginning of Thai classical art that was never entirely lost, even in its declining phases. The broad forehead, egg-shaped face and arching eyebrows are a blend of harmonious and abstract forms. The usnisa of tightly wound curls ends in the distinctive lotus bud ketumala to complete the balanced oval form of the head. But the lively expression playing upon this sedate abstraction of forms is alert to the present, full of life and burning with intellectual concentration. It is this balance of form and spirit that marks the triumph of Thai classicism.

Bronze Each piece you see here is made individually by our master artisans. The craftsmanship involved creates slight variations in color, finish, size, and shape - a quality we consider to be an added touch of uniqueness. The remarkable detail of our bronze sculptures is due to meticulous and labor-intensive care by Thai craftsmen to produce these unique sculptures of exquisite detail and timeless durability. Buffing, polishing, and patinising give each piece its final green-grey verdigris or bronze luster, which conveys the essence of what we at Eastern Serenity admire in South-East Asian art.