About This Piece
6″ Meditating Buddha Under Bodhi Tree | Handcrafted Brass | Antique Brown Finish
This 6.5-inch handcrafted brass sculpture depicts the Buddha seated in deep meditation beneath a stylized Bodhi tree, cast and finished by hand using traditional brass-working techniques. The piece measures 6.5 inches in height, 4.5 inches in width, and 4 inches in depth, and weighs approximately 900 grams — substantial for its size, with the density that only solid brass construction produces.
The figure has been carefully shaped to reflect classical Buddhist iconographic convention. Buddha sits in the padmasana posture on a tiered lotus pedestal with individually rendered petals along the base. The right hand is raised in what appears to be the vitarka mudra, the gesture of teaching and reasoning, while the left hand rests in the lap. The face carries a composed, inward expression — eyes downcast, features calm and symmetrical — framed by a structured halo and the characteristic ushnisha at the crown. Rising behind the figure, the Bodhi tree is sculpted with textured, spreading branches, and a bird is perched at the top, a detail that required separate casting and precise assembly. The level of branching detail in a piece of this scale reflects considerable skill in the finishing stage.
In Buddhist tradition, the Bodhi tree carries the weight of the central event in the Buddha's life — the attainment of enlightenment at Bodh Gaya. Depicting the Buddha beneath it is not merely decorative; it anchors the figure within that moment of awakening, making this iconography particularly significant for meditation practice and contemplative spaces.
Brass, an alloy of copper and zinc, has been the preferred material for Indian devotional sculpture for centuries. It holds fine detail well, resists corrosion, and develops a rich surface character over time. At 900 grams, this piece has the physical weight that reflects genuine material quality.
The antique brown finish deepens the sculptural contrast between the tree's dark, textured branches and the warmer tones of the figure and lotus base — visible clearly in the piece as photographed. As with all handcrafted work, minor variation in tone, texture, and surface patina is natural and expected between individual pieces.
This sculpture is well suited to a meditation corner, study desk, home altar, or as a considered gift for someone drawn to Buddhist art or mindfulness practice.