17th-18th century Burmese bronze staff finial. This bronze image of the Buddha is in the meditation pose called "calling the earth to witness" and is created on an openwork stand below. Behind the Buddha there is a 3-part configuration which symbolizes the tree of life. The pose "calling the earth to witness" is the time when the Buddha achieved enlightenment. He placed his right hand down toward the earth and called the earth to witness his enlightenment. Before that he had been tempted by Mara.
