This lot depicts Buddha Shakyamuni holding his right hand in abhayamudra, the gesture of fearlessness, with a chakra wheel marked in the centre of his palm, symbolising the Buddhist faith. Likely standing in an iconic posture in its original entirety, the figure of Buddha exudes a commanding presence. The curled hairstyle, conical ushnisha, gentle expression, distinct physiognomy (slightly arched eyebrows, broad nose and pouting lips), and broad decorated belt are comparable to thirteenth-century sandstone and bronze figures of Buddha from the Lopburi period. Reflecting the Bayon tradition—an artistic style that flourished in the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries in Cambodia and annexed Champa—the meditative smiling face, large flat curls, broad ornamented belt and long frontal robe flap are characteristics of Lopburi school sculptures from this time, as portrayed in this lot. It is also notable how the upper garment is so diaphanous that the torso itself appears naked. Lopburi sculptures during this period were often accompanied by votive tablets due to Mahayana influences. (Boisselier, Jean. The Heritage of Thai Sculptures. New York & Tokyo: Weatherhill, pp. 114-25.)
A Lopburi-style bronze sculpture of Shakyamuni with similar features was sold at Christie’s Amsterdam on 31 October 2000, lot 159, for NLG 49,148.