This Buddha statue is made of resin and painted by hand. The robe is white, with grey shading in the folds and a gold border along the edge. Its face, hair, right shoulder and hands are finished in antique gold. It is 41 cm tall, 32 cm wide and 17 cm deep, and weighs about 2 kg. Made in Indonesia.
The teaching Buddha
His right hand is raised beside the shoulder, the thumb and index finger forming a circle and the other fingers pointing up, while the left hand rests in his lap. His eyes are half closed, and the gold on the long earlobes and curled hair is darker in the hollows.
This hand position is called the vitarka mudra, mudra being the word for the hand gestures of Buddhist statues. Vitarka is the gesture of teaching and discussion.
Bare shoulder, gold border
Draped over the left shoulder, the robe leaves the right shoulder and arm bare and painted gold. Monks in South-East Asia often still wear their robes over one shoulder like this. Deep in the folds, greyish shading mixes into the white, and gold follows the border.
For a study or among books
With its teaching gesture, it suits a study or a reading corner, next to the bookcase on top of a low cabinet. You can see it there when you look up from your desk. At 17 cm deep it fits on an ordinary chest of drawers, but it is too big for a windowsill. The white also works well in a light, Scandinavian-style room.
As it is painted by hand, the edges of the colours vary slightly between pieces. Use a soft, dry brush for dusting rather than a damp cloth. For indoor use.