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The Art of Thailand

1. Title: Buddha in royal attire dispelling fear with left hand pendant
Date: c.1750
H.=132cm
This depiction of the Buddha stands apart from others in the National Gallery's collection because of the clothing the Buddha wears. He is adorned in royal attire, with ornaye decoration and jewellery. The 'fabric' is patterned in some way and he also wears a cape, an unusual garment for the Buddha. Atop his head is a long pointed hat, unlike the usually depicted small topknot. These features of the Buddha, along with the overall elongation of the figure in a straight, yet not entirely rigid (see for instance his gently curved arm extending out from his side) point to a regional style of depiction which has been used here to create an otherwise common image. The symbolic gesture of the figure stands as testament to it actually being an image of the Buddha.

2. Title: Buddha asking the earth to witness his overcoming of the forces of evil
Date: c.1370-1556
H.=67cm
This bronze image of the Buddha calling the earth to witness carries all the features of traditional representations of the Buddha. Sitting on a lotus pedestal, he reaches to the ground with his right hand, summoning the goddess of the earth. Buddha is wearing simple robes and no significant jewellery and his hair is formed into the tight curls and top knot which are common in such images. The face of Buddha is somewhat stylised but is most definitely modelled on Thai features, especially around the mouth and eyes. This gives the piece some sense of its context and distinguishes it from other images which relate the same narrative. To see other images in this collection which show Buddha calling the earth to witness, go to the pages dealing with the art of India (image no.4) and Burma (image no.1).

For a cultural prehistory and history of Thailand, see my page on the

Thai Art and History

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Jane Carter 19.10.95