Buddha seated on pedestal; hands rest in lap

Buddha subduing Mara, late 19th century

Unknown artist, expand_more

Gilt bronzeexpand_more

Gift of Charles L. Freerexpand_more  17.116

This depiction of the Buddha, dressed as a prince and seated atop a carpet on an elaborate throne, would become widespread after King Rama I (r. 1782–1809) defeated Burmese incursions and established the Chakri dynasty, which rules present-day Thailand. Its leaders, like many earlier Southeast Asian kingdoms, styled themselves as universal monarchs, or chakravartins, on religious grounds, just as India’s first Buddhist emperor, Ashoka, had done 2,000 years earlier. Local elites would emulate the opulent royal sculptures for their own aesthetic and spiritual collecting practices. This phenomenon no doubt influenced industrialist Charles L. Freer, who gave this sculpture to Mia in 1917. It is the first work of Asian art to enter the museum’s collection.

Details
Title
Buddha subduing Mara
Role
Artist
Dimension
21 in. (53.3 cm)
Accession Number
17.116
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

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Buddha seated on pedestal; hands rest in lap