Thailand

Title

Buddha enthroned under the seven headed naga

Other titles:

Figure of Buddha (enthroned on the seven headed naga)
Buddha enthroned on seven headed cobra

Place of origin

Thailand

Period

Bangkok period 1782 to present → Thailand

Year

early 19th century

Media category

Sculpture

Materials used

gilt bronze

Dimensions

74.3 x 54.3 x 33.4cm

Signature & date

Not signed. Not dated.

Credit

Purchased 1948

Accession number

8337

Location

Upper Asian gallery

Further information

In the Bangkok period, the patronage and glorification of Buddhism continued as the principal theme of the arts. This seated gilt Buddha sheltering under the seven headed 'naga' is typical of the showy glitter cherished at this time. Its iconography relates to the life story of the Historical Buddha, Shakyamuni: in the fifth week of the seven weeks he meditated after attaining Enlightenment, when he was seated at the edge of Lake Muchalinda, a terrible storm arose, causing the waters of the lake to rise. Seeing that Buddha was lost in meditation, the serpent ('naga') king Muchalinda slipped his coils under Buddha's body, lifting him above the flood. At the same time, he spread the hoods of his seven heads to shelter him. This image is found throughout Southeast Asia.

Bibliography (4)

Anne Matthews, City Guide to Sydney, Hampshire, 1996, 41.

Jackie Menzies and Edmund Capon, Asian Collection Handbook, Art Gallery of New South Wales 1990, 'South-East Asian Art', pg. 83-96, Domain, 1990, 95 (colour illus.).

Jackie Menzies, Arts of Asia Nov 2003-Dec 2003, 'New Dimensions', pg. 54-63, Hong Kong, Nov 2003-Dec 2003, 60 (colour illus.). no.16

Jackie Menzies (Editor), The Asian Collections Art Gallery of New South Wales 2003, Domain, 2003, 332 (colour illus.).

Exhibition history (1)

A survey of Indian art (1967), Fisher Library, University of Sydney, Sydney, 06 Sep 1967–23 Sep 1967