Ancient votive tablet of the Buddha – Dark red terracotta – Northern Thailand (Chiang Rai)
This ancient dark red terracotta votive tablet depicts the Buddha seated in meditation beneath a stylized arch. Handcrafted in the Chiang Rai region of northern Thailand, it reflects the ancient tradition of votive offerings placed in temples or buried in sacred stupas to accumulate merit and attract the Buddha's blessings.
Its ancient, patinated surface is evidence of a long ritual life, likely within a monastery or local sacred site. This type of object is often discovered during temple restorations or ancient Buddhist excavation sites in the Golden Triangle.
🌸 Features:
🙏 Origin: Northern Thailand (Chiang Rai)
🛕 Estimated period: First half of the 20th century
✨ Deity: Buddha seated in meditation (Maravichaya)
📐 Dimensions: 7cm × 4.5 cm
⚓ Weight: 32 grams
🔸 This votive tablet is particularly sought after by collectors of ancient Buddhist art, as it symbolizes the inner stability and timeless presence of the Buddha in the very matter of the earth.
☸️ In northern Thai folk belief, these blessed clay tablets protect against evil spirits and promote encounters with good teachers on the spiritual path. They also act as a karmic bridge between past and future lives, reminding us that the practice of Dhamma continues through the ages and forms.