Southeast Asian Gilt Figure with Mount

This Buddhist sculpture is among the artifacts collected by a couple who spent nearly 40 years in Thailand as missionaries in the early 20th century. Made of gilded cast bronze and embellished with black and red lacquer, the sculpture depicts Buddha being brought gifts of fruit and honeycomb. Rendered in a highly ornate style, the figure stands before a monkey, an elephant and snakes who reach toward him with an attitude of reverence.