The Sultanganj Buddha

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The Majestic Buddha of Sultanganj Artist: Unknown Date: 500-700 AD Medium: Bronze Dimensions: Height, 223 cm Accession #: 1885A1116 Credit: Presented by Samuel Thornton, 1864 This magnificent bronze statue of the Buddha was one of the first treasures to enter the collections and remains among the most impressive works in Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery. The Sultanganj Buddha stands as the largest known complete Indian bronze sculpture. Cast with precision using the lost-wax technique on a sturdy clay core, this monumental statue was unearthed by E B Harris, a skilled railway engineer, at Sultanganj in northern India during the construction of the East Indian Railway in 1862. The Sultanganj Buddha is a masterpiece from the Gupta-Pala transitional period, representing the largest substantially complete copper Buddha figure known from that era. The statue measures an impressive 2.3m high and 1m wide, weighing over 500 kg. It was discovered in the North Indian town of Sultanganj, Bhagalpur district, Bihar in 1861 during the construction of the East Indian Railway. Crafted from pure, unrefined copper using the cire perdue or lost wax technique, the Buddha statue stands with his right hand raised in abhayamudra, a gesture of reassurance or protection. His left hand is held downwards with palm outwards, indicating a favor granted, while the end of the monastic robe is expertly held between the thumb and forefinger of this hand, just as Theravadin monks do to this day. This incredible object is part of "Scan The World", a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory. Scan the World is creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the globe for everyone's access. It's an open-source, community-driven effort. If you have interesting items nearby and want to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can help. Scanned: Photogrammetry (Processed using Agisoft PhotoScan)