Buddha; traces of gilt on patina; face is square, mouth is wide, nose is flat and hair curls are large - all indicative of the classic style evolved bt the early Dvaravati sculptors

Buddha Head, 8th century

Unknown artist, Cambodia or Thailandexpand_more

Limestoneexpand_more

Bequest of Alfred F. Pillsburyexpand_more  50.46.219

On View in Gallery 213expand_more

This Buddha demonstrates a critical innovation of Southeast Asian sculpture: the early translation of established Indian prototypes into distinctly local expressions. The sculptor fully captures the calm bliss of the enlightened being while subtly incorporating the facial features of the indigenous population. Similarly, artists of the Mon-Dvaravati period exaggerated the Buddha’s snail-shell curls, an attribute codified in Indian aesthetic treatises; the tight whorls would have had special significance to a culture where shells were valued forms of ornamentation.

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Head of the Buddha, Thailand or Cambodia (#191)
Details
Title
Buddha Head
Role
Artist
Accession Number
50.46.219
Curator Approved

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Buddha; traces of gilt on patina; face is square, mouth is wide, nose is flat and hair curls are large - all indicative of the classic style evolved bt the early Dvaravati sculptors

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