Large Fire-Gilded Theravada Bronze Buddha – Sri Lanka / South India Tradition (17th–18th Century)
Large Fire-Gilded Theravada Bronze Buddha – Sri Lanka / South India Tradition – 17th–18th Century
Height 66.5 cm – Weight 16.8 kg
This large historical bronze Buddha, displaying the Dhyana Mudra, was originally fully fire-gilded and shows clear evidence of 17th–18th century Theravada craftsmanship. Interior analysis reveals a thick sand-casting structure, old mineral accretions, cuprite layers, and centuries-old copper chlorides—features that do not appear in modern bronzes. The piece belongs to the Sri Lankan / South Indian Kandyan tradition, with characteristic robe-folds, serene facial modelling, and the distinctive “6-shaped” urna.
A temple-grade bronze with authentic age and original gilding residues.
Valuation Report
This large Theravada bronze Buddha was examined using museum-grade analytical methods, including microscopic inspection, UV-fluorescence testing and internal structural analysis. The statue is cast in solid bronze and was originally fully fire-gilded, with mineralised gold traces preserved in protected folds and contour zones.
Microscopic examination confirms natural cuprite layers, crystalline copper chlorides and long-term patina development without modern coatings or fillers. The black and reddish underlayers beneath the remaining gold correspond to historical mercury-amalgam gilding. No evidence of modern repainting, artificial patination or surface reconstruction was observed.
The interior shows a traditional thick sand-cast structure with uneven wall formation, ancient casting seams and historical repair points typical of pre-industrial Sri Lankan and South Indian workshop practice. UV analysis reveals heterogeneous oxidation and mineral accretion patterns consistent with several centuries of exposure, and not with recent manufacture.
The stylistic features, including the softly modelled face, characteristic “6-shaped” urna, robe treatment and proportions, align with Sri Lankan and South Indian Theravada production of the 17th–18th century. The overall construction, weight and preserved gilding indicate a historical temple image rather than a modern decorative casting.
Dimensions: 66.5 cm height, 52 cm width, 16.8 kg weight. Material: bronze with original fire-gilding. Region of origin: Sri Lanka / South India. Estimated date: 17th–18th century.
Retail valuation range: €8.500 – €12.500
Documentation: thailand.hcommons.org/2025/11/28/large-fire-gilded-theravada-bronze-buddha-sri-lanka
Large Fire-Gilded Theravada Bronze Buddha – Sri Lanka / South India Tradition (17th–18th Century)
Description
This large historical bronze Buddha, standing 66.5 cm high and weighing 16.8 kg, represents a mature Theravada tradition from Sri Lanka and South India during the 17th–18th century. The figure is cast in solid bronze and originally fire-gilded, with visible traces of gold preserved in protected zones. The serene expression, softly rounded face and characteristic “6-shaped” urna reflect the artistic vocabulary of the Kandyan and coastal South Indian workshops active in this period.
The robe is rendered with long, continuous lines flowing over the shoulder and around the body, a style typical for late-medieval and early-modern Theravada bronzes. The modelling is balanced and calm, with the Buddha seated in the Dhyana Mudra — the traditional gesture of meditation and inner stillness.
Microscopic examination reveals authentic mineralised gold residues, cuprite layers, and naturally formed copper chlorides. The interior shows a thick sand-casting structure, uneven wall formation and old casting repairs, together forming the evidence of genuine pre-industrial craftsmanship. No modern coatings, fillers or surface treatments are present. UV analysis confirms natural centuries-old oxidation patterns.
This type of bronze would have served in a temple or monastic environment, where ritual use, touch and environmental exposure contribute to the layered patina that remains today. The piece has weight, presence and authenticity — a rare surviving example of a large early Theravada image with original fire-gilded surface.
Dimensions:
Height 66.5 cm
Width 52 cm
Weight 16.8 kg
Material: Bronze, originally fire-gilded
Origin: Sri Lanka / South India
Period: 17th–18th century
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Large Fire-Gilded Theravada Bronze Buddha – Sri Lanka / South India Tradition (17th–18th Century)
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