Head of Budha

Lacquered bronze
Thailand
School of Ayutthaya
17th - 18th Century

Dimensions : 45 x 26 x 25 cm

Provenance : Private German collection

This face is representative of the Ayutthaya style; the curve of the eyebrows highlights the gentle half closed eyes. The very elongated earlobes are a symbol of wisdom. The neck shows the characteristic three “beauty folds”. The comparatively small mouth with its subtle smile and the rounded chin are a permanent feature of Thai art.

The hair, dressed in small concentric curls, covers the cranial protuberance. According to Thai custom, the ushnisha was originally topped by a flame-shaped ornament.