This is a bronze sculpture of the Buddha Shakyamuni. A typical example of a Mandalay Buddha, this sculpture has a broad band across the forehead. Its hair hugging the head in tight curls and covers a broad prominent ushnisha. Seated in Vajrasana posture, his hands perform the Bhumisparsa mudra, in which his right hand touches the ground and his left laid on his lap. His right chest is visible, while the sanghati is folded decoratively on the left shoulder. In principle, the Bhumisparsa mudra is a gesture reserved for the Buddha Shakyamuni. According to the life story of the Buddha, the demon Mara questions the Buddha’s enlightenment, saying that nobody was there to witness the process. The Buddha, with his right hand touching the ground, proclaims that the Earth stands witness to his enlightenment, and defeats Mara in the process. Youthful, sweet-faced image of the Buddha wearing a robe elaborately folded, edged and decorated often with inset mirror glass, has attained great popularity and become known as the ”Mandalay Buddha”. For many people, it came to epitomize the Burmese representation of the Buddha. The eyes and the band below its ushnisha are lacquered, reflecting its Mandalay origin. The base of the sculpture has been restored to a visible extent.