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The Mandalay Period represents the last great
cultural flourishing of Burmese art. The period
was named after the city of Mandalay, which
served as capital of Myanmar for a brief period
(1860-1885 A.D.) during the reign of King
Mindon. After the Anglo-Burmese Wars,
northern Myanmar was shut off from the coastal
areas that were controlled by the British. King
Mindon founded the new capital at a sacred site
at the foot of a large hill. The center of the city
was designed in the perfect geometrical form of
a Buddhist Mandala, giving the city its name.
Although this short-lived kingdom finally fell to
the British forces in 1886 A.D. during the Third
Anglo-Burmese War, the Royal Guilds that
created such remarkable works of art for the
King remained in the city where they continued
to produce sculptures in the Mandalay style.
This image of reclining Buddha emanates a sense
of cultivation and grace. Its polished appearance
in flowing gilt and lacquered robes and serenely
reposed body cushioned against the pearly
surface with an elbow and armpit support
bespeaks of the Buddha's exalted and
transcendental existence. Propping the head
with one hand, the Buddha rests its eloquently
beaded hair and ushnisa facing forward with a
tranquil expression. The features are well-
defined--arched eyebrows, narrow eyes outlined
in black, long aquiline nose, delicate mouth and
pendulant earlobes. This reclining Buddha takes
on a beautiful form, with soft curves and twists
in the body arranged to convey the spiritual
opulence of Buddhahood.
- (H.028)
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