Indian culture traveled along the sea trade routes to the fertile delta region of Myanmar (pronounced myahn-mah) once known as Burma. Like the rest of Southeast Asia, Myanmar received an infusion of Indian culture-- Hinduism, Buddhism, and a belief in divine kingship, as well as Sanskrit and the Indian alphabet-- from the traders and monks who in that day were fanning out from India in every direction. Small devotional bronzes were the first religious images to arrive, and they contributed to the development of a distinctive regional style, typified by this pair of Buddhist Attendant Figures. The use of gilt, lacquer and glass insets to simulate jewels both enriches the figures and symbolizes the shining splendor of Buddhism.

Theravada Buddhism is the dominant sect in Myanmar and this image is one of the most popular and often used images by devotees. The Buddha is portrayed seated in a yogic position on a throne. One hand reaches down in the"earth-touching" mudra. According to Buddhist tradition, , as the Buddha sat meditating under the bodhi tree, he was tempted by the God of Death, Mara, who unleashed a series of assaults upon the Buddha, but was unsuccessful. Upon defeating Mara, the Buddha stretched out his hand to touch the ground, calling on the earth to acknowledge his right to teach his faith.

According to Theravada belief, merit was gained each time an image of Buddha is made. An item such as this ivory tusk could be adorned with repeated identical images of the Buddha. The thirteen enthroned Buddha figures within an elaborate frame of foliage repeat the same gesture of touching the earth.

The kings of Myanmar claimed to be bodhisattvas or their equivalent, using both Hindu and Buddhist tradition to legitimize their rule. So closely were images of the king and Buddha intertwined that the standard Buddha image in Myanmar was adorned with an elaborate crown and jewels. The Chinese obtained one of their most precious treasures from Myanmar -- a form of jade called jadeite. Several objects in The Margaret and Trammel Crow Collection of Asian Art are fashioned from this rare and expensive stone which is very beautiful and difficult to carve.