Buddha Preaching
Unknown Artist
8th century
Medium
Copper alloy inlaid with silver and glass or obsidian
Dimensions
H. 32 13/16 in. (83.3 cm); W. 9 3/8 in. (23.7 cm); D. 7 3/16 in. (18.3 cm); Wt. est. 100 lbs (45.4 kg)
Classification
Sculpture
Culture
Northeastern Thailand
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1982
Accession Number
1982.220.5
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold the majestic *Buddha Preaching*, 8th-century copper alloy sculpture from Northeastern Thailand standing over 32 inches tall and weighing an estimated 100 pounds.ed by an unknown artist, this monumental captures the Buddha in a dynamic preaching pose, likely the *dharmachakra mud*—the gesture of turning the Wheel of Dharma, symbolizing first sermon that set Buddhist teachings in motion. The intricate inlays of silver, glass, or obsidian—possibly for eyes, lips, or jewelry—add a luminous, lifelike quality, enhancing the statue's spiritual presence. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Ar...