Provenance:
Jean-Claude Moreau-Gobard, Paris
European Private Collection, acquired in 1987
Bonhams, Hong Kong, March 29, 2018, no. 18
The Maitri Collection
Depicted kneeling in anjali mudra, these figures represent devotees engaged in an act of reverence before a sacred image. Their symmetrical poses and inward-facing orientation suggest that they originally flanked a larger sacred figure, participating in a visual expression of devotion and worship.
The figures display characteristics associated with Ayutthaya-period bronze sculpture. Their faces are gently modeled, with downcast eyes beneath arched brows, elongated earlobes, and tightly-arranged rows of curls covering the head. Smooth, rounded contours define the shoulders, arms, and folded legs, while traces of lacquer and gilding preserve evidence of their original surface appearance.
Images of kneeling devotees played an important role in the religious life of Ayutthaya-period Thailand, embodying acts of prayer, merit-making, and reverence before the Buddha. Their mirrored poses and composed expressions convey the reverential role these figures played within a Buddhist devotional setting.