Cast Bronze Head of Buddha, Thailand, circa 18th century

Cast Bronze Head of Buddha

This beautiful image of the head of a Buddha or perhaps a disciple monk is in the Ayutthaya style. It is almost life-sized and is realistically and sympathetically modelled. The face is downcast, serene and meditative.

The very rounded, full face with raised eyebrows is characteristic of certain Buddha images from 17th-18th century Thailand. The image also has stylised, concave, elongated ears; the lips are pronounced; the nose aquiline; and the hair and

usnisha covered with small, tightly curled and spiky curls. The top of the head has a small cavity into which a separately-made cintimani finial would have been inserted.

The image is accompanied by a high-quality, custom-made black display stand. Overall, the image, on its stand, is very decorative and unusually beautiful. It is in an excellent, stable condition.

It was acquired in the UK from a private collector.

Woodward, H.W., The Sacred Sculpture of Thailand: The Alexander B. Griswold Collection – The Walters Art Gallery, Thames & Hudson, 1997.