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Head of Buddha

About 8th century

Thailand

Limestone

H. 24 7/8 x W. 13 3/4 x D. 11 5/8 in. (63.1 x 34.9 x 29.5 cm)

Asia Society, New York: Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection, 1979.76

Provenance

John D. Rockefeller 3rd, New York, NY; acquired from William H. Wolff Inc., New York, N, April 1968.

The Asia Society, New York, NY, bequest of John D. Rockefeller 3rd, New York, NY, 1979.

Licensing inquiries

This serene image expresses inner calm through its downcast eyes and smooth features. Texts that describe how a Buddha's face should look often use comparisons to natural forms. According to some texts, a Buddha's face is supposed to have eyes like lotus petals, eyebrows like an archer's bow, a nose like a parrot's beak, and a chin like a mango stone. Although the ultimate inspiration for Thai Buddha images originated in India, the features of this head, with its high cheekbones, full lips, and broad nose, reflect the ideals of the Mon people. However, this image retains many of the Buddha characteristics developed in India such as the bump atop the head signifying expanded wisdom (ushnisha) and right-turning snail shell-shaped curls which miraculously resulted when Siddhartha cut off his long hair.