Dvaravati Art
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Left - Buddha: circa 8th - 9th century AD, Stone, Height 1.45 m,
Found at Wat Na Phramen, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province.
(Currently on exhibition at Bangkok National Museum)
Right - Buddha in 'Descending from the Tavatimsa Heaven' Posture: circa 8th - 11th century AD,
Bronze, Height 49 cm, (Currently on exhibition at Bangkok National Museum)
Back - Dharmacakra (The Wheel of Law): circa 8th century AD, Stone, Height 110 cm,
Diameter 96 cm, Found at Nakhon Pathom province. (Currently on exhibition at Bangkok National Museum)
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Dvaravati (Land of Buddhism) refers to the kingdom situated in the The Chao Phraya River basin between the 7th and 11th centuries AD. Important archaeological objects of Dvaravati Art comprise Buddhism-related sculptures representing two distrinct sects known as 'Hinayana' and 'Mahayana'. The Dvaravati style derived from Indian archetypes of both 'Amaravati' and 'Gupta' styles, integrated with local art. Dvaravati Art can be sup-categorized into three distinct groups according to the standard of craftsmanship.
Type 1 : Heavily influenced by Indian art, the images have no aurcode are similar to Indian sculptures. There are positioned either seated with legs loosely folded or standing in the Tribhanga (leaning) pose. Hand gestures were limited to the right hand, while the left hand would be shown holding the end of the robe.
Type 2 : More influenced by local styles, the aurcode appears in a lotus bud shape or an orb over the cranial protuberance with large hair curls. The eyebrows from a continuous 'crows wings' curve, the eues protrude while the nose is flat and the lips thick. The standing Buddha figures of this type are mainly positionaled in a straightstanding pose, performing the Vitarka (Preaching) Posture. The robes hung to mid-shin level with a symmetrical trimming.
Type 3 : During the final period, Khmer influences are markedly visible. The Buddha was carved with a square face and a cleft chin. The straight edged mantle typically extended all the way to the navel. The image would normally be shown seated with legs fully folded, resting on a roughly carved lotus base.