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PAIRE OF MONKS
High: 2'9"(83cm)
width: 16" (40cm)
depth:14" (35cm)
Dry lacquer
Myanmar (Burma)
Ava period, early 17th c CE
Perfect condition
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Those sculptures represent a couple of Buddhist monks, or nuns, kneeling on ornate high cushions. According to the aesthetic canon of the Ava period in Burma, the shape of the body is softened and the features of the monks are largely stylized. Their large eyes are half cast down under long eyebrows and their small mouth draw a peaceful smile. Their elongated earlobes touch their round shoulders and their heads are shaved and covered with black lacquer.
As such, they do not portray real monks, but ideal Buddha’s disciples in the celestial realm. They do not show human beings no more, but rather the concept of devotion to the path of Buddhism, already far away from the word of illusions and desire.
The two pieces were made in the dry lacquer Man Hpaya technique which does not comprise a wooden body and for this reason, remains very light in weight. The entire sculpture is hollow and a simple structure of bamboo, or even paper, was covered with multiple layers of lacquer, until it became thick and strong enough to be carved and perfectly finished.
This lacquer work represents a classic aspect of Burmese culture: among the great artistic achievements of the Burmese people is the development and use of yun, the generic name for lacquer in Myanmar (Burma). Durable, precious and beautiful items were produced by this time-tested method, the vital element of which is the sap from the Melanorrhoea usitata tree. Nevertheless, pieces of this quality and size are very difficult to find for they were already rare and very expensive at the time of their making.
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