Terracotta Buddha Relic Container
Style
Burmese Buddhist devotional art, a local interpretation of the early sarnath Buddha. This distinctive hollow Buddha figure also functions as a relic container, combining the sacred image of the Buddha with the traditional function of preserving and enshrining Buddhist relics. The Buddha is depicted in Teaching Mudra, symbolising the transmission of the Dharma and the continuation of the Buddhist teachings.
Period
19th Century or earlier difficult to assess about the exact age of this one, it can be from the pyu period or as well as a Mandalay revival, Burma (Myanmar). The object reflects the longstanding Burmese tradition of incorporating relic veneration directly into Buddhist imagery, creating devotional sculptures that were both representations of the Buddha and sacred reliquaries.
Material
Terracotta (fired clay).
Size
Height: 16 cm.
Provenance
German collection
Condition
Good