Dimensions: Height 56 cm Wide 36 cm Depth 22 cm
Weight: 18.7 Kilograms

The Buddha is seated in bhūmisparśa mudrā (earth-touching gesture), his right hand reaching towards the ground while his left rests in his lap. He wears a richly ornamented, multi-tiered crown surmounted by a flame finial, with large earrings and a sash-like ornament across the chest. He sits on an elaborate multi-tiered pedestal with scrolling foliate motifs and flame tips at the corners. The bronze is thickly gilded overall, with traces of age and wear highlighting the relief.

This type of crowned or “royal” Buddha reflects the devotional tastes of the early Chakri dynasty, when Bangkok became the capital of Siam and the Rattanakosin style developed as a distinctive continuation of Ayutthaya models, but more elaborate and courtly. These figures were often produced for royal temples or as presentation images, embodying the merging of Buddhist and regal ideals.

Comparative examples:
For similar crowned Buddha images see the National Museum Bangkok, ; and a related example illustrated in Somkiart Lopetcharat, Rattanakosin Buddhist Art, Bangkok, 2007