National Museum, Bangkok

Special thanks to the Museum for their gracious permission to photograph these objects.

Standing Buddha

Ayutthaya (Wat Mahathat, Bangkok), 17c
National Museum, Bangkok

This charming statuette exemplifies Late Ayutthaya style, in which the pipestem legs are brought together and the whole figure is unified in a graceful composition, including a seemingly boneless left arm. The mudra is abhaya, "fear not." Buddha's dress includes the usual Theravada transparent robe, but his jeweled crown, necklace, bracelets, and pectoral ornament reflect a decorative and Mahayana stylistic influence.