How can you date a Buddha statue and determine where it comes from? Authenticating Buddhist sculpture requires more than examining its patina. Experts combine signs of age, materials, casting techniques, iconography and stylistic details to identify the artistic school and place the sculpture within its historical timeline. Discover how the study of bronze corrosion, clay cores, metal sacrifice, posture, facial features and regional styles can reveal the history, origin and a

Discover the fascinating evolution of Bagan Buddhist art, from the ancient Pyu tradition and the influence of Pala India to the refined classical Buddha images of the 11th and 12th centuries. Explore how King Anawrahta’s patronage of Theravada Buddhism transformed Burmese sculpture, how local Pyu craftsmen adapted Indian models, and how the elegant classical Bagan Buddha gradually evolved into the more monumental images of the Late Bagan period.

How can you tell whether a bronze Buddha statue is genuinely antique? In this detailed examination of a 42 cm Thai Walking Buddha, we explore the characteristic style and sculptural mastery of the Sukhothai school, together with microscopic evidence of corrosion, mineralisation, surviving lacquer and later cleaning. The convergence of these observations points to an authentic antique Sukhothai Walking Buddha and reveals the fascinating material history preserved within its br

Discover the fascinating world of Arakanese Buddhist art, from the sacred Mahamuni Buddha and the cult of Kassapa, Gautama and Maitreya to the distinctive bronzes and fortress-like temples of Mrauk-U. Shaped by centuries of trade, warfare and cultural exchange, Arakan developed one of the most original traditions of Buddhist sculpture in Myanmar.

Burmese votive tablets: a guide and reflection of this part of Myanmar Buddhist art. From the pyu period until now votive tablets were used as a donation to relic chambers. Discover more about it

Long before becoming an Islamic nation, the Maldives was home to a Buddhist civilisation connected to India and Sri Lanka. Discover the archaeological evidence for this forgotten chapter of Maldivian history and the Buddha images that reveal its ancient Buddhist heritage.

Collecting an antique Buddha is about far more than owning a beautiful object. From historical significance and artistic beauty to spiritual symbolism and the stories preserved in centuries-old materials, discover five reasons why antique Buddhist sculpture continues to fascinate collectors around the world.