Provenance:
European Private Collection, acquired in 1992
The majority of the ancient bronze sculptures discovered in Sri Lanka are representations of the Buddha seated in virasana with hands displaying the dhyana mudra. The Samadhi Buddha has remained the most popular depiction of the Buddha in the Theravada countries to the present day. Unlike the large, seated sculptures inside shrines and cave temples, which often represent Manusibuddhas, it can be assumed that the small bronze images are depictions of the historical Buddha Sakyamuni.
Seated in meditation, the Buddha stares in focused contemplation. He wears a simple monastic robe (sanghati) leaving his right shoulder bare. His earlobes are pierced and extended. The hair is arranged in rows of curls and the domed usnisa is surmounted by a flaming pearl (cintamani).
