National Museum, Bangkok

Special thanks to the Museum for their gracious permission to photograph these objects.

Standing Buddha

Bangkok style, 19c
National Museum, Bangkok

The Bangkok style proper, originated with king Rama III (1824-1851), since the first two Bangkok kings (Rama I and II, from 1782 to 1824) continued to follow Ayutthaya style. This statue shows the ornate flames, headdress, and gilding which are typical of 19c Bangkok style. The Buddha's face is generic and the urna reappears, but his robes are an interesting mix of 19c courtly convention and a much earlier transparent style that dates over a millennium, back to Gupta times. The mudra is abhaya ("fear not").