Thailand. Sukhothai Style c. 15th century.This exceptional example of the Sukhothai style radiates the unshakable calm and resolute spiritual power that have given generations of Buddhist believers confidence that faith ultimately triumphs over evil and adversity. The gesture of the right hand lowered with the palm turned inward - Bhumisparsamudra - records the Buddhas triumph over the patron of worldly vanities, the Mara, The Evil One. Thorani, mother goddess of the earth, unbinds the tresses of her hair and unleashes a flood that washes away Mara, destroying his imposing armies and mischievous harem. Buddhas Enlightenment is thus associated with the earth goddess, Thorani, worshipped throughout pre -Buddhist Asia, which may help explain its near universal popularity in Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Sri Lanka. These are the countries where Theravada Buddhism prevails, but also homelands in the ancient past of rice-cultivating, matrilineal societies. But contrary to common opinion, identifying the Buddha with the mother goddess of the old religion did not produce a frail, effete or decadent art. On the contrary, Sukhothai art is strikingly vigorous and energetic - robust without being muscular or even anatomic. In this typical Sukhothai image, the sculpted masses of the figure are so balanced that some inner spiritual force seems to lift the weight of the upper torso with seemingly effortless levity. That force erupts in the halo of fire, the ketumala, which, as a result of concentrated spiritual powers, bursts forth from the top of cranium. This is the fuel that animates the plastic masses of the sculpture to create an impression of ineffable resilience and buoyancy. (RN)
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.
