Opinion: The present lot is a sad and, at the same time, hopeful testimonial to the sheer endless number of Buddhist images that were destroyed during two millennia of turmoil, upheaval, revolution, and outright war. Sad, because the tragedy of brutal and mortifying repression is apparent in this statue, hopeful because even the most savage physical harm was unable to diminish Buddha’s eternally peaceful appearance.

Thailand, 15^th-16^th century. Cast striding with the right leg slightly raised, his left hand in vitarka mudra and his right gracefully extended alongside his body, wearing a diaphanous sanghati over his left shoulder and flaring down towards a gently undulating hemline.

Provenance: French trade. By repute acquired from an old private estate.
Condition: Presenting remarkably well. Condition overall commensurate with age. Old wear, partially from extensive worshipping within the culture. Some casting flaws, few nicks and dents, small cracks and old fills, obvious losses. Fine, naturally grown, dark patina.

Dimensions: Height circa 84 cm (excl. stand), circa 97 cm (incl. stand)

Mounted to a modern metal stand. (1)

The 'Walking Buddha' is a striking and iconic Thai invention emerging in bronze sculpture during the 14th century. Known in Sukhothai as cankrama (walking back and forth) it refers to the pacing of Buddha during the third week after Enlightenment, see H. Woodward, The Sacred Sculpture of Thailand, 1997, page 160ff. When Shakyamuni renounced his princely life, he dismounted from his horse to become a peripatetic mendicant. Buddhist texts describe his constant wandering from city to city in the course of his teaching, exemplifying the important role that the act of walking had upon Buddha's life.

Literature comparison:
Large models of this size and condition are extremely rare. Compare a related bronze figure of the walking Buddha, dated to the 15^th century, height 128.3 cm, in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, accession number 31.115. Compare another smaller example of the walking Buddha, dated to the 14th century, height 28 cm, in the British Museum, museum number 1947,0514.1.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 17 September 1999, lot 254
Price: USD 112,500 or approx. EUR 194,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Large and Important Bronze Figure of a 'Walking Buddha', Thailand, Sukhothai, 15th/16th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related pose, color of the bronze, and size (117 cm including head and feet).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 13 September 2017, lot 635
Price: USD 100,000 or approx. EUR 117,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Rare Bronze Figure of a Walking Buddha, Thailand, Sukhothai period, 15th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related pose and dress. Note the small size (43.7 cm).