Buddha At Chatra, Indonesia

Copper alloy Buddha, Indonesia, early 20th century or earlier. Indonesian Buddhist art, although often overlooked, draws inspiration from the great Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions of India and Southeast Asia, particularly influenced by trade with the kingdoms of Srivijaya and Majapahit. This statuette, although relatively recent, is part of this continuity, evoking both the votive function and the spread of the Dharma in the archipelago. The association of the Buddha with a chattra in this iconography indicates a reference to the ten royal symbols of the Buddha, a style that goes beyond the framework of simple Theravada and is instead part of broader conceptions of the Buddha as a universal spiritual sovereign (Chakravartin) Provenance: Estate of the collector and Asian art dealer Claude de Marteau H 13 cm x W 6 cm x D 4 cm Weight: 350 grams. This copper-alloy Buddha from Indonesia features evocative iconography that blends spiritual symbolism with regional artistic tradition. Seated in a meditation posture (vajrāsana) on a tiered lotus-leaf base, he adopts the bhūmisparśa mudrā, the Buddha’s emblematic gesture calling the earth to witness his awakening beneath the Bodhi tree. Behind him, a mandorla frames his figure, evoking stylistic influences from medieval Buddhist periods in Southeast Asia. The most distinctive element of this work is the chattra (Chatra), or ritual parasol, placed at the top of the composition. A symbol of dignity and protection, the chattra is an attribute frequently associated with stupas and royal deities in Buddhist and Hindu iconography. Here it represents the supreme spiritual authority of the Buddha and his status as an awakened Being above the world of illusion. The chatra is also an ashtamangala, one of the eight auspicious symbols of Indian religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism or Sikhism. See this Buddha with Indonesian Chatra in full screen mode on Vintage Addict