Title
Crowned Buddha
Year/Period
Ming dynasty (1368-1644)
Region
China
Material
Technique
Cire perdue or lost-wax method. The basic idea is to fashion a model in wax which is covered with sand and then heated. This melts the wax and leaves a mold with the exact impression of the wax model. The molten metal is then poured into the cavity through a specially prepared funnel. After the mold is filled, it is cooled with water and broken with tools and chisels to reveal the finished product. The statue can then be gilded, incised, inlaid with jewellery and painted.
Dimension
Object size: 40 x 27 cm
Accession No.
1993-00200
Collection of
This crowned buddha is seated in dhyanasana (meditation pose) with his hands in abhaya (fearlessness) or virtaka (teaching) mudra (hand gesture).The depiction of a Buddha wearing a crown is uncommon as bodily adornment which are associated with worldliness do not usually appear on a Buddha. However, when the Buddha is depicted in this form, it represents his former existence as royalty since the historical Buddha was born as a prince of the Shakya clan.
