plump face and wide nose; nearly closed eyes; wearing a large crown with dragon and foliage designs

Head of a bodhisattva, probably Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin), 12th-13th century

Unknown artist, expand_more

Limestoneexpand_more

Gift of Ruth and Bruce Daytonexpand_more  2000.86.1

Sculpted during the Jin or Yuan dynasties, this fully modeled, dignified, and elaborately detailed head reflects the splendor of Buddhist sculpture of the preceding Song dynasty (960–1279). The highly detailed two-tier crown, decorated with dragons and phoenixes, mimics ornate gold crowns excavated from royal burial tombs in northern China. In the front of the crown is a roundel on a lotus base containing a Tibetan character meaning “buddha.” Its use here may be as a substitute for the miniature image of Amitābha, the buddha who usually appears in the headdress of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara.

Details
Title
Head of a bodhisattva, probably Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin)
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2000.86.1
Curator Approved

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plump face and wide nose; nearly closed eyes; wearing a large crown with dragon and foliage designs