Since the Khmer period, Phitsanulok has historically always been an important industrial, strategic and religious centre for the early competing Thai Kingdoms. Sukhothai, Lanna, Ayutthaya and Burma have all laid claim to the city at some time and in 1463, King Trailokanat moved the capital of the Ayutthaya kingdom to the city until his successor Boromma Racha III moved the capital back to Ayutthaya 25 years later. Hence the reason early Ayutthaya Buddhas with the classic Pitsanulok base all seem to vary so much iconographically. The mix of Sukhothai, Lanna, U-Thong , Lopburi and Si Lanka make for such interesting and attractive images cast with such ornate bases. The very distinctive bases have a slight Chinese feel, which makes sense if you consider at the time leading up to the casting of this image Phitsanulok had become an important trading center for Chinese traders due to its good quality ceramic production.

Age: Late 15th-Early16th Century.

Height: 50 cm.

Remarks: As can be seen in some of the above photos the head of this image has been perfectly reattached and there is some minor cracking which is usual for bronzes of this period as they were very thinly cast.