The Ava period (14th to 18th century) marked a golden era of Burmese artistry, following the decline of the Bagan kingdom. Ava Buddha statues are known for their serene expressions, delicate features, and refined craftsmanship, typically cast in bronze or carved from wood. Our collection features antique statues from Myanmar.
Ava Buddha statues are typically cast in bronze or carved from wood, with stone used less often. Below are the materials most commonly found in statuary from this period:
The Ava period spans the 14th to the 18th century, when the Ava kingdom emerged as the leading power in central Burma following the decline of the Bagan kingdom. Ava art built on Bagan's Buddhist foundations while developing its own refined sensibility, and the period's craftsmanship would go on to shape the later Amarapura and Mandalay styles.
Ava statues are recognized by their serene, gentle expressions, delicate facial features, and graceful postures. Robes are rendered with intricate carving and well-defined folds, and mudras such as the Bhumisparsha (earth-touching) gesture are common, reflecting core Buddhist teachings. Compared to the more solemn Pyu and Bagan styles, Ava statues show a softer, more refined treatment of the face and body.
As a golden era of Burmese Buddhist art, Ava statues suit a wide range of settings:
Ava is one of several historical periods represented in our collection, each with its own regional style and history:
It spans the 14th to the 18th century, when the Ava kingdom rose as the leading power in central Burma after the decline of the Bagan kingdom.
Serene, gentle expressions, delicate facial features, graceful postures, and finely carved, well-defined robe folds.
Bronze and wood are most common, with stone used less frequently.
Ava statues develop a softer, more refined facial treatment than the earlier Bagan style, laying groundwork for the more elaborate ornamentation of the later Mandalay period.
