Coals to Newcastle

This C19th bronze Mandalay Burmese Buddha in the top picture was purchased in Bangkok more than 10 years ago and lived with us very briefly in Hong Kong before we moved to Edinburgh. The four begging monks (C19th Burmese) were also purchased in Bangkok about 18 years ago, had a longer stint in Hong Kong, (where these photographs were taken), and then they too were shipped to Edinburgh when we moved in 2000. They form part of a small collection which we decided not to bring with us, when we came to live here nearly 7 years ago, as I wanted to avoid creating an interior that was too Thai in Thailand. At the time it seemed too much like Coals to Newcastle, or indeed Buddhas to Bangkok.

Yes, I know, Burmese Buddhas aren't exactly Thai. But many interiors here are decorated with a mass of Thai and South East Asian antiques, and I wanted to avoid going down that road.

As time has progressed we have both missed these artifacts, which along with a few other pieces, including this pair of C19th red lacquer Peking wedding chests, are in storage in Scotland. Whilst there are many Buddhas for sale here, of varying degrees of authenticity, I have never been tempted to buy another for myself. And indeed, it is rare to find one with a similar face. For me buying a Buddha statue has always been about the face, and the smile. Ours has a smile of peace and tranquility, which is extremely rewarding, and I suppose is the whole point of them.

There now appear to be a profusion of begging monks in the large antique resource here in Bangkok, at the River City shopping complex, but all of recent creation, and none of them with the sincerity that is evident in the craftsman's endeavours, visible in the four that we are fortunate enough to own.

Recently I came across this Chinese Buddha for sale at auction:

Chinese Ming - Qing gilt wood Shakyamuni Buddha

with right hand pointing to the floor (a sign of victory against the evil), with red ground. Provenance: From the collection of Victor Oppenheim, the "Father of Columbian Geology." 25"H, Circa - 17th - 18th C.

Whilst undoubtedly an extremely beautiful piece, I am very surprised at the sale price of USD45,000 - well above its top estimate of USD15,000.

I also noted in a recent House & Garden the begging monks of Sir James & Lady Dyson, (of eponymous vacuum cleaner fame, although "I'm just going to Dyson the sitting room" doesn't quite have the cachet of its more famous, though arguably less efficient counterpart).

Image: House & Garden

Whilst these monks are visually pretty, and Deidre Dyson has created much more interest around them by the clever use of blues on the pillars in the flat, I have a feeling they are circa yesterday. Or possibly more recent.

Re-posted with new images.