Choose the Right Buddha Statues for your collection

Buddha Statue

Buddhist statues are not religious statues and are more of a meditation guide than a religious icon. Statues of Buddha remind Buddhists to find their inner balance and to remember their serenity. Other Hindu Deities did not become as popular as Buddha due mainly to the fact that according to legend, it was only Buddha who reached the state of nirvana—the goal of all Buddhists.

Unlike most other religious statues that originated from Christianity and the Renaissance, Buddhist art was originally from the subcontinent of India and followed the life of Siddhartha Gautama, historically. This occurred between the sixth and fifty century, BC and later evolved as it got in touch with other Asian cultures throughout the globe. Buddhist statues followed believers as the spread of dharma occurred and went through evolution in every new country host it arrived in.

For those who have a passion for collecting items that speak of Asian history and beauty, it is fulfilled in the art of collecting Buddha Statues. Touching an antique statue made from the 3BC century is not only thrilling; it is an assurance that you will always have a thing of value.

You can meditate on the features of your Buddha Statue which speak of serenity and balance, and one that you know was looked upon by hundreds of people in the past. Buddha Statue collecting is popular among antique collectors, ranging from Asian-specialty collectors to museum curators. Buddha statues can originate from China, Japan, India and Tibet. The ones from China contain a wax seal that tell you these are authentic.

Is your Buddha statue originally made? When judging the quality of your Buddha Statue, you need to re-acquaint yourself with how these are made. Your statue of Buddha may be carved or hardened through casting, molding or firing. You are looking for a Buddha that have chiseled, clear features and made of material that stands the test of time. These include Buddhas made of jade, gold, bronze, stone, ivory or silver.

Buddha collection

Look for a stamp underneath the statue which indicates what year it was made in. Buddha statues also come in different sizes including those that are five inches or less. The fact that Buddhism is a popular Chinese belief has made China a country that has one of the richest art of Buddhas in the world. As you collect Buddha statues from China, you will see that these were developed beginning the first until the fifty century.

The North Dynasties developed abstract, symbolic representation modes and lines that are schematic. The style is majestic and solemn and this led to the Tang Buddhist art. Locations in China which preserve the North Wei Dynasty Buddha Sculptures include the Bingling Temple in Gansu, the Longmen Grottoes in Henan and the Yungang Grottoes in Shanxi.

There are also antique key chains that are made of jade, ivory, silver, bronze or gold. Statues range from those that look traditional to those that are sitting in a pose of meditation or the Buddha is slim or is a fat Buddha. Buddhas also include statues that are known as the ‘laughing Buddha’ which happen to be popular in many Asian homes and there are Buddhas that have a pot belly and are either sitting or standing.