Very Large Maravijayà Buddha, Northern Thailand, Lan Na Style, 17th-18th C.

Very large Buddha (1.10m) Maravijayà in bronze. Style of LAN NA, northern Thailand, 17th or 18th century. Sàkyamuni, seated under the bodhi tree, undergoes the assaults of Mara, the regent, fearing to lose his ascendancy over beings dominated by passions. The latter first sends his armies to him; in vain. The master then touches the earth (gesture of the Bhumisparsa mùdra) to prove his unwavering determination and calls the earth goddess Sthàvarà to witness. Style of LAN NA, inspired by Pala art, that of Bagan, Haripunchai, and Lanka, with Chiang Mai as its capital since the end of the 13th century. Very beautiful presence, rare in these dimensions. Formerly entirely gilded with leaf, traces of which can be found almost everywhere. Weight probably between 150 and 180kgs