Head of Buddha

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Head of Buddha

Place of OriginThailand

DateSukhothai Period, 14th-15th century

DimensionsH 7 1/2 in. (19 cm); W 3 3/4 in. (9.6 cm); Depth 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm)

MediumBronze

ClassificationSculpture

Credit LineGift of Paul and Sasi Maginley

Object number

2001.6

Not on View

DescriptionThis work is a small bronze Buddha head, with some of the gilding still in evidence. It is broken off at the chin and has a large patch on the back of the head. It is mounted on a small bronze stem and stand. There are no inscriptions or signatures.

Label TextThis small bronze head of the Buddha (“Enlightened One”), with some of the original gilding that covered it still in evidence, was once part of a full figure, but was broken off at the chin at some point in its history. It has the features common to any image of the Buddha across Southeast Asia at the time, such as elongated earlobes; “snail-shell” curls for hair; the ushnisha, or topknot, on the head, surmounted by a flame (both details symbolizing his spiritual enlightenment); and the urna, or symbolic “third eye” of spiritual vision, on the forehead.Comparative ReferencesSee also Boisselier, Jean, The Heritage of Thai Sculpture, Asia Books, Bangkok, 1975.