Hand-carved Burmese Jambupati Buddha – Shan-style Teak Wood (96 cm)

The Burmese Jambupati Buddha is one of the most majestic and spiritually powerful manifestations within the history of Buddhist art. This monumental specimen, measuring a remarkable 96 cm in height, is a rare and museum-grade masterpiece, expertly hand-carved from a single massive teakwood trunk. With an impressive weight of 19.5 kg, this sculpture immediately exudes a deep, serene tranquility and historical elegance. The statue is richly decorated with traditional Burmese lacquerwork and authentic gold leaf that has beautifully worn down through the passage of time. At Hi(s)story Antiques, you are assured of a unique object with a tangible and lived-in story.

In the iconography of Southeast Asia, the Burmese Jambupati Buddha known as the ‘King of Kings’. The statue illustrates a famous Buddhist legend in which the Buddha revealed himself to the proud and arrogant worldly king Jambupati. To make the king realize that worldly power is fleeting, the Buddha transformed himself into a cosmic emperor, dressed in the most magnificent royal robes and a towering crown. Impressed by this spiritual and majestic appearance, King Jambupati came to realization and converted to Buddhism. This specific type of statue therefore symbolizes the ultimate spiritual sovereignty that transcends any form of earthly power.

This specific Burmese Jambupati Buddha is depicted in the classical lotus position (dhyanasana). The right hand reaches down elegantly into the bhumisparsha mudra, also known as touching the earth or the witness mudra. This crucial moment depicts the Buddha's victory over the demon Mara, in which he asks the earth goddess Thorani to bear witness to his countless virtues and steadfastness on the path to enlightenment. The contrast between the spiritual serenity of the mudra and the exuberant royal ornamentation makes this type of sculpture extremely popular worldwide among collectors of early Asian art and craft.

This masterpiece is crafted from high-quality, durable teak wood. The wood was first treated with successive layers of the traditional black and deep red thitsi-lacquer, harvested from the Burmese lacquer tree. Pure gold leaf was subsequently applied to these layers of lacquer with extreme precision. Through decades of devotional touch in temples, the gold leaf has worn away in an organic manner, allowing the underlying dark lacquer layers to show through in an aesthetic way.

An important technical feature of this large Burmese Jambupati Buddha is the construction of the headdress. The monumental, layered crown and the finely openwork Kinnara-wings behind the ears are carved as separate wooden panels and assembled with the original wooden mortise and tenon joints. This was done intentionally to counteract the natural movement and splitting of the solid teak wood. The underside of the base is traditionally hollow-carved and still shows the authentic, rough traces of the historic adze and the original red ground layer (cinnabar). At the rear, there is a stable, natural shrinkage crack inherent to the great age of the wood.

With its impressive height and weathered appearance, this Burmese Jambupati Buddha as the ultimate Statement piece in high-end interiors. The piece fits seamlessly with the principles of Wabi-Sabi aesthetics, which center on the beauty of imperfection and the traces of time. Within a minimalist Japandi interior or eclectic decor as well, this sculpture brings a sense of mysticism, history, and serene luxury.

Due to the substantial weight of 19.5 kg and the fragile, refined crown parts, this object deserves the very best transport. Hi(s)story Antiques therefore offers customized delivery solutions. Within the Netherlands and Belgium, this masterpiece can be personally delivered by us by arrangement. For international buyers, we work exclusively with specialized art couriers who transport the sculpture with the utmost care directly to your doorstep. We guarantee secure payment and the absolute authenticity of all our historical objects. Do you have any questions or would you like to view this sculpture in person? Please feel free to contact us via info@hisstoryantiques.nl.