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Subject:Buddha!!!
Posted By: orup Tue, Jun 28, 2011 IP: 82.209.140.249

I think that this Buddha from Thailand. But is there anyone from the image can tell how old it may be.







Subject:Re: Buddha!!!
Posted By: Bill H Thu, Jun 30, 2011

This looks possibly to be Lao-style or perhaps from the Chiang Saen area.

It would help greatly to know the dimensions and composition of the image before trying to guess at age.

Best regards,

Bill H.

Subject:Re: Buddha!!!
Posted By: orup Fri, Jul 01, 2011

I found this Lao Buddha on the Internet using the information I received. It is very similar and it is more than 100 years old.



Subject:Re: Buddha!!!
Posted By: orup Tue, Jul 05, 2011

Bill!
The Buddha is 29 inches high and is made of bronze. Buddha is gold plated. Can you with that information, say the age of the Buddha?

Subject:Re: Buddha!!!
Posted By: Bill H Wed, Jul 06, 2011

I can't see anything that makes me think this Buddha is made for the tourist trade. Everything seems to be in the right place and the correct proportions. The dark patina of exposed bronze, as well as the general look of the gold leaf seem to me to reflect legitimate age and not the artificiality associated with products of antique factories in Northern Thailand.

In my opinion, this image likely dates from the late 19th century and seems to have spent most of its time in a protected environment, such as a temple or home altar, where devotees kept the gold leaf in good repair. However, keep in mind that my experience is more with Shan images from northern Burma and less with the Lao versions. You should consider having someone familiar with Lao images take a closer look.

Best regards,

Bill H.

Subject:Re: Buddha!!!
Posted By: orup Thu, Jul 07, 2011

Bill! Thanks for the information.

Subject:Re: Buddha!!!
Posted By: pierrevdw Thu, Jul 07, 2011

Hello Orup,

I believe Bill is on the right track about the origin your statue.

If you could post a pic of the core (underneath the base) I might be able to authenticate your nice Buddha image.

Here a photo of similar style of Buddha taken in Vientian / Laos, to compare.

Best regards



Subject:Re: Buddha!!!
Posted By: orup Fri, Jul 08, 2011

Here are some more pictures of Buddha. Thank you for all the information I can get.value?







Subject:Re: Buddha!!!
Posted By: pierrevdw Fri, Jul 08, 2011

Hi Orup,

I need to be able to see deep inside de statue.
If you can do, it would be interesting.

(see example, same angle as photo 2 is what I need )

Have a nice day.





Subject:Re: Buddha!!!
Posted By: orup Fri, Jul 08, 2011

Correction, Buddha is 29 cm high and not 29 inches. It was wrong in Google translation.

Subject:Re: Buddha!!!
Posted By: Jack Dragon Sat, Jul 09, 2011

This item belongs stylistically to the so called "U-Thong", C-group (there is a progression and evolution of styles through the "A", the "B", and finally the "C" group) of Thai sculptures. It is clearly a modern copy, meaning to simulate the antique prototypes that seem to be appeared at the beginning of 15th century.

Subject:Re: Buddha!!!
Posted By: orup Sat, Jul 09, 2011

Here are the pictures you wanted.







Subject:Re: Buddha!!!
Posted By: orup Mon, Jul 11, 2011

Here are some more pictures of Buddha. I am grateful for more information. Can the Buddha be older than 100 years?







Subject:Re: Buddha!!!
Posted By: pierrevdw Mon, Jul 11, 2011

Hi Orup,

The inside is less convincing that the outside, unfortunately.

But ok, to be totaly sure, you can check by yourself by scratching the little green area I circled on the photo. If you find some ox blood red stuff under the green , your statue is probably of a certain age. If not, it is a recently made one.

Good luck



Subject:Re: Buddha!!!
Posted By: orup Tue, Jul 12, 2011

I prefer to rely on Bill's information. The other information it feels a bit like pratical joke. But I thank you for all the information I have received. I'm sending a picture on the bottom of a Buddha from an ancient Buddha and it has some similarities to the underside of the Buddha I have.



Subject:Re: Buddha!!!
Posted By: orup Fri, Jul 15, 2011

Pirrevdw!
I think you can justify your opinion by telling you what is wrong with the underside of the Buddha. I can not find anything wrong and no other of the experts I have shown it. So you mean to Bill H's assessment is wrong.
Orup







Subject:Re: Buddha!!!
Posted By: pierrevdw Sat, Jul 16, 2011

Orup,

First understand that evaluating from a photo is not the easiest thing to do.
I'm not in contradiction with Bill, the statue's style is correct and it looks old, better than most fakes if fake it is.

What I don't like are the cracks in the core, if cracks they are. (see photo)Are they cracks or some black lines?? I can't tell for sure from a photo.

What you think is a practical joke is infact a sure and easy way to find out if your statue is old or not.

Scratch a couple of those green spots.(see photo)

These should be malachite crystals, the second form of corosion on bronze. See if it is dark red underneath (cuprite crystals) the first form of corosion on bronze.

If it is cuprite underneath the malachite, your statue is old, more than 100 years for sure.

If not, it has been trated with chemicals to make it look old.
Chemicals will create green spots to fool unaweare collectors. But the fake makers cannot recreate malachite crystals growing on cuprite.

To me, the 2 spots I cirled in red on the second photo don't look the right color for malachite.

But a photo is a photo. Only handeling the statue is the sure way to go, and I am a bit far to do so.

Do the scratch test , and you will be sure.

Have a nice day.






Subject:Re: Buddha!!!
Posted By: orup Mon, Jul 18, 2011

pierrevdw!
I scraped at the site of Buddha you had described. During the green surface, one can see a dark red. If it seems proving that the Buddha is old, then my second question to you. Can the Buddha be older than 300 years. I got this information when I bought it at a quality auction in Stockholm
Sweden. I have been in contact with the auction company and they say they have a
a trained expert Soutebys who control their Asian objects before they are sold at their auction.
Sincerely, Robert

Subject:Re: Buddha!!!
Posted By: pierrevdw Tue, Jul 19, 2011

Hi Orup,

Well, that's good news.

If it is dark red under the green, then your piece is old, no problem, you can sleep on your two hears.

How old I can't tell, I'm not a S/E Asia specialist.

Whithout having to spend 500 US$ doing a TL test of the core, there are 3 other ways to determine it's approximate age.

1 is the style, and I'm not specialised enough to tell.

2 is provenance.

3 is the state of corosion.
According to the state of corosion , yes it could be 300 years old, but not much more than that.

At least 19th century,that I can say for sure. Probably 200 to 300 years.
More than 300 is a big maybe. All depend of it's exposure/protection.

Have a nice day.


Subject:Re: Buddha!!!
Posted By: orup Wed, Jul 20, 2011

pierrevdw and Bill!
Thank you for the information I have received from you. There is always interest true to get some of your knowledge of Asian items.
Sincerely Orup

Subject:Re: Buddha!!!
Posted By: Bill H Thu, Jul 21, 2011

I always learn something new in an exchange like this, so am much obliged to you and Pierre too, thanks. BH

Subject:Re: Buddha!!!
Posted By: Santi Sat, Nov 26, 2011

Youre U thong buddha is about 400 to 500 years old.Here an other U thong sample see photo,succes.







Subject:Re: Buddha!!!
Posted By: Jack Dragon Tue, Dec 27, 2011

Here attached an almost identical bronze buddha, sold on ebay for �. 300,00, called simply "old", but obviosuly a copy coming out from the same forgery factory in Thailand. Be careful, folks!



Subject:Re: Buddha!!!
Posted By: Mike in Thailand Mon, Sep 08, 2014

WOW! Thanks for the thread and all the good information. I can honestly say that I learned something today.


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