Szilágyi András (szerk.): Ars Decorativa 18. (Budapest, 1999)

Tatjana KARDOS: Buddha Statuette with votive inscription from Laos

the aluminium was reason it was used for the inscription. "Tor devout Buddhists Buddha statues are not objects to be traded. The Marquis de Barthélémy had experience of this a century ago, when during his expedition in 1896-1897 he wanted to purchase a Buddha statue found among the ruins of a monastery. The village headman agreed to gave the statue to the Marquis as a gift, as selling it could brought him trouble. The binoculars offered by the Marquis in exchange were met with the real enthusiasm among the men of the village (see: Griswold 1960, p. 110. note No. 1.). (Here we do not speak of the statues which are sold as antiques or objects d' art. These objects have lost contact with their original background and are no longer considered religious objects by the seller.)