Old Buddha Statues

[H2oDunc]

Mods I am not sure where best to put this so putting it in the general. If you think it might get a better response in the Buddhism forum feel free to move it. Thanks.

Several years ago in the UK I was having a Sunday morning wander around the market at Camden and came across a beautiful Buddha head in a Thai antique shop. It was very expensive but at the time I was earning good money and it reminded me of my trips to Thailand. It has been sitting in a box with a load of other belongings which I got back yesterday. Upon seeing the Buddha the missus freaked out. She seems to think the police are going to come and lock us both up ? She says it is very old and I am not quite sure what else she is trying to tell me about it. Any ideas ? When I brought it into Thailand the customs officer had a look, said it was very nice and that was it.Other Thais who came to my old house also said it was very nice and worth a lot of money. Why has my missus gone loopy ? some pictures here.

Cheers for the help

[PoorSucker]

She thinks it has been stolen from a statue at a temple.

[londonthai]

if it was very expensive it might have been stolen from some thai museum or temple and you gf recognises it.

why bringing thai art from the uk to thailand? you had run a risk of confiscation (and prosecution)

[Thongkorn]

She thinks it has been stolen from a statue at a temple.

My misses thinks the same, she said bad people use to steal them to sell , Also it is like stealing from a church in the west.

[PhilHarries]

Perhaps, as you are unsure of it's origins and to mollify the missus, you should do the right thing and take it to the fine arts department (or whatever they're called) explain how you came by it and ask for their opinion.

Yes, you are likely to lose it but at least you will have a clear conscience and will have accrued some positive karma.

[JimmyTheMook]

It actually looks and is very much like one of the modern reproduction that can be bought wholesale in Chatujak or Thaprahjohn Markets in Bangkok

[H2oDunc]

It was as said checked by the customs and they allowed it in. Surely they would have said something if they thought it was stolen ? I think the missus is just presuming it is stolen as it was expensive ?

[H2oDunc]

if it was very expensive it might have been stolen from some thai museum or temple and you gf recognises it.

why bringing thai art from the uk to thailand? you had run a risk of confiscation (and prosecution)

I brought it here as I now live here. Not such a hard thing to understand. I also stated it was declared to Thai customs and they let it in no problem and as far as I am aware you only need a license to export Buddha images not import them ? Maybe somebody can clarify ?

Do people actually read posts before posting ?

[7by7]

If it was stolen and illegally exported, then even though you bought it in the UK it is still stolen property.

That Thai customs allowed it in without comment is a point in your favour, but were I you I would still follow PhilHarries' advice as it would make the issue of ownership certain.

It would ease your wife's mind, too.

[yabaaaa]

apart from the fact of advertising it here who the hel_l would know you had it? Tell your wife its a fake at the end of the day its just a lump of rock.

[PhilHarries]

apart from the fact of advertising it here who the hel_l would know you had it? Tell your wife its a fake at the end of the day its just a lump of rock.

So are a lot of things like Uluru (Ayers rock) but a person's faith transforms them into something more and who are any of us to shatter that belief?

[H2oDunc]

The only problem I have is finding somebody to check it. I do not want to hand it to some Thai who will just keep it for himself. I have no problem in returning it if I can prove the provenance of it. The missus has calmed down a little as her friend said it was like lots of fake ones she had seen in BKK.

[anchan42]

Seeing those picture reminded me of the headless Buddha image around Thailand.

I don't know how anybody could look at it and say beautiful.

I would not have it in my house, I don't know any Thais who would either.

[camerata]

A Buddha's head is a fashionable item of decor in the West, but a Thai would never think of it like that. To a Thai, having a severed Buddha's head in the house would be as bizarre as for a Westerner to have a severed head of Jesus Christ in the living room. I mean, can you imagine that?

When I visited Nara National Museum they had a whole row of Buddha's heads on metal stalks (from the Silk Road, not from Japan) along one wall, and it looked downright creepy to me.

[UdeBoCM]

if it was very expensive it might have been stolen from some thai museum or temple and you gf recognises it.

why bringing thai art from the uk to thailand? you had run a risk of confiscation (and prosecution)

I brought it here as I now live here. Not such a hard thing to understand. I also stated it was declared to Thai customs and they let it in no problem and as far as I am aware you only need a license to export Buddha images not import them ? Maybe somebody can clarify ?

Do people actually read posts before posting ?

You got a licence because your piece is of no importance: Not stolen from a temple, not broken off a whole statue: it is a brand new handicraft, this can be seen kilometers away (did not even need to enlarge your jpgs). It has no other value than the bronze (or perhaps brass) value per weight + workmanship, I would say 2,000 bahts from the wholeseller. Sorry for disappointment if any.

Thais do not like to see Buddha in parts, they worship the whole figure, thus perhaps your madam reaction.

[LazyYogi]

A Buddha's head is a fashionable item of decor in the West, but a Thai would never think of it like that. To a Thai, having a severed Buddha's head in the house would be as bizarre as for a Westerner to have a severed head of Jesus Christ in the living room. I mean, can you imagine that?

When I visited Nara National Museum they had a whole row of Buddha's heads on metal stalks (from the Silk Road, not from Japan) along one wall, and it looked downright creepy to me.

Exactly what I was thinking. It's so strange to me that mounted Buddha heads ever became popular collector's items.

[sabaijai]

Agree that it appears to be a reproduction, as the material does not conform with style. the piece is of no particular value, which is why Thai customs did not confiscate it, which they are fully empowered to do.

However to make sure, simply take it to the Dept of Fine Arts at the National Museum in Bangkok. They can identify it and they will not steal if from you.

[fabianfred]

What....didn't you see the movie 'Ong Bak'..??

[waza]

Donate it to the local temple, that should give you merit with the missus