Great Buddha ornamented, two hands up

This graceful polychrome statue represents a standing Buddha with two palms facing the worshipper. This gesture called “no fear” is sometimes simplified with only one hand up with the other one resting along the body. This kind of calming down gesture has been the favourite posture of the Cambodian sculptors since the XIV century. Several items produced according to the polychrome method were found in the ancient Angkor temples, but this technique was usually used during the post-Angkorian period.

This majestic statue was totally handmade: it took 10 days to precut the rubber tree wood, 30 days to carve it, 30 days to plaster it and add some ornamental details, and 15 days to paint it and gild it according to the polychrome process. In total, 85 days of work were necessary to produce this piece.