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3. Mon Dvaravati Period Sakyamuni Buddha Thailand 7th-8th c. limestone 16 inches |
Buddha's body is clearly apparent trough the layers of the fine Sangnati that covers his shoulders and the slightly longer undergarment that appears underneeth. Standing with both arms broken in the frontal posture, the facial epression is gentle and compassionate and features a somewhat rounded face with down cast eyes, a broad flat nose and a smiling mouth with rather thick lips. The ridged eyebrows are joined at the center to form a bow. The head is covered by large heavy curls and surmounted by a hemispherical Ushnisha. The elongated earlobs, caused by the weight of the princely earrings worn in his youth, reflect Buddha's royal origin. As the image was originally designed to be approached from the front, the rendering of the back is of a depective simplicity. Dvaravati statues are characterized by somewhat asexual bodies, an attitude referred to as the Triphangha or triple flexion posture, a style which demonstrates a placid sense of sensuality, while manifesting an expression of graceful motion and fluidity in a devine manner. Detail: close-up of face |