Antique Thai Buddha Middle-Ayutthaya Period, and 36 similar items

Antique Bronze Thai Buddha from the Middle-Ayutthaya Period in the Double Abhaya Mudra with aged gilt. The Buddha stands upon a magnificent, four-tiered lotus flower pedestal with hands held in the double abhaya mudra, his expression resolute yet serene, standing upright with feet together and with both palms raised, as if pushing something away. In Thailand when the Buddha’s right hand is raised in abhaya mudra, a gesture to dispel fear, it is called ‘forbidding family disputes’. When both hands are raised, it is called double abhaya mudra and is known as 'ham samut', or ‘calming the ocean', stopping the ocean from rising', 'causing the waters to subside’ or ‘stilling the river’. It has also become symbolic of the Buddha's mastery over passions and is a symbol of protection, peace, benevolence and the dispelling of fear. It talks about an episode concerns a flood at a sahram located on a river bank in India. The Buddha went to the camp of Kasyapa who had a following of one thousand 'fire-worshippers'. When he asked to stay over-night, he was given a meagre hut on the bank of a flooding river. The Buddha miraculously stopped the rising water from breaking the banks by simply lifting his hands and thereby converted Kasyapa and his followers. The abhaya mudra is one of the earliest mudras found depicted on a number of Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and Sikh images. Description and Condition: Thai bronze figure of a standing Buddha, with both hands held up in the double abhaya mudra position and standing with feet together. The dress of the Buddha is the monastic robe, draped over left shoulder, with the right shoulder bare. Note the tightly curled hair. Ushnisha (an extended lotus shaped or flame shaped finial on top of head) is missing. Bottom edge of base shows significant wear. Nonmagnetic metal – bronze. In great antique condition with age-appropriate wear and use, and some losses to gilt. 22.5" tall. Ayutthaya Period (1350 – 1767 AD) The Ayutthaya Kingdom was a Siamese kingdom that existed from 1350 to 1767 centered on the city of Ayutthaya. The Kingdom of Ayutthaya is considered to be the precursor of modern Thailand