Antique Lopburi Buddha Statue from Thailand

The Buddha statue was made from a copper alloy in a standing position with hands in double Abhaya mudra. This mudra symbolizes the act of dispelling fear in the face of adversity. In Laos and Thailand where this mudra are used as one of the most iconic gestures, with its origin was pre-Buddhism era, when it was a symbol of good intentions and friendship when approaching strangers. In contrast to Indian iconography, it was often shown with both hands raised to the level of the shoulder in Southeast Asia. The statue was made in the classic Lopburi style, which historically was heavily influenced by Khmer art in Southern Thailand. It was dated to late 18th century, the beginning of Rattanakosin era (also known as Bangkok period). Fine repousse work was showcased on the surface and used to create the facial features and the elaborate details on the attires, both the front and the back, even including the palms. Due to the high copper content, a lovely green patina has developed. The statue is displayed and fixed to the wood stand.
The piece was from a Palm Beach, FL collection. It was purchased in 1974 from Erawan Antiques in Bankgok and a copy of the original COA accompanies it.