This early Buddha figure is interesting for its strongly modelled robe, which reflects the stylistic fusion of early Buddhist South and Southeast Asian images. The piece is cast in the south Indian style of the Nagapattinam school (Nagapattinam was a port town in Tamil Nadu in south India and a renowned Buddhist pilgrimage centre from early times). In this style, the robe is worn as seen here: the right shoulder bare, the robe falling in heavy folds, finishing short of the hem of the undergarment. On the left, the folds of the robe fall in wavy lines to the Buddha's ankles, while he gathers the edges of his garment in his left hand.

The Asian Collections, AGNSW, 2003, pg.324.