Thai Rattanakosin Standing Buddha

Dated to the mid-19th century during the Rattanakosin dynasty, this serene standing Buddha figure is intricately cast in bronze and decorated with gold leaf. The standing figure is costumed in bejeweled robes reminiscent of Thai royal attire and wears a tall flame-like crown. This spiked crown is known as an ushnisha, and signifies wisdom and the spiritual power of the Buddha's enlightenment. The Buddha holds both his hands outwards in the abhaya mudra, a gesture of protection and fearlessness known in Thailand as "Calming the Waters."