Burmese Pagoda Relic - 18th-19th Century Shrine Style - Earth-Touching Gesture Buddha (Heavily Cleaned Edition)

A Buddha statue recovered from a collapsed pagoda in the Mandalay region of Myanmar. Depicts the Buddha in the earth-touching gesture, symbolizing overcoming temptation. The estimated period is the 18th-19th century (the antique dealer who brought it to Taiwan suggested it might be even older...). However, having handled antiques for many years, it is prudent to provide a conservative estimate. This type of Buddha statue features a distinctive Burmese shrine design. A pagoda-shaped Dharani bead can be placed beneath the shrine. The total height is 6.74 cm. The exterior has undergone two cleaning processes. The first cleaning was performed by locals upon its retrieval from the pagoda in Myanmar, removing most of the hard, cement-like soil adhered to the bronze Buddha. The second cleaning took place after its arrival in Taiwan, brushing away most of the oxidized patina and casting residue. However, a small amount of cement-like hardened soil remains within the shrine's interior. Do not assume these unpretentious and somewhat austere Burmese antique Buddha statues are inexpensive... As they are now prohibited from being exported from Myanmar, the wholesale antique dealer priced it at 3500. If not for having purchased nearly 500,000 worth of goods previously, there would have been no discount offered...