Sukhothai Hollow Cast Lacquered and Gilded Bronze Head of the Buddha
A Sukhothai Hollow Cast Lacquered and Gilded Bronze Head of the Buddha with Typical Pointed Elongated Ears and Downcast Eyes Under Slightly Ridged Eyebrows
15th Century
Size: 25.5cm high – 10 ins high / 37cm high – 14½ ins high (including base)
15th Century
Size: 25.5cm high – 10 ins high / 37cm high – 14½ ins high (including base)
Thai art developed as an art centred on the person of the Buddha and the Sukhothai style images are some of the most original. Buddhism reached Thailand and Cambodia from India and the earliest surviving sculptures are bronzes from the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka. These served as models from which over time local styles developed.
The ‘Enlightened One’ is portrayed with a stylised anatomy that embodies all the harmonious forms of a completely spiritual body. A hairstyle of tight curls ending in a flame like element ‘rasini’ is a symbol of the spiritual radiance of the Buddha, and together with the pointed ears, is a feature derived from Sri Lanka. The sulky mouth in a half smile has an inward looking quality. The half closed eyes under strongly defined eyebrows reinforce the meditative impression.
The ‘Enlightened One’ is portrayed with a stylised anatomy that embodies all the harmonious forms of a completely spiritual body. A hairstyle of tight curls ending in a flame like element ‘rasini’ is a symbol of the spiritual radiance of the Buddha, and together with the pointed ears, is a feature derived from Sri Lanka. The sulky mouth in a half smile has an inward looking quality. The half closed eyes under strongly defined eyebrows reinforce the meditative impression.
Sukhothai Hollow Cast Lacquered and Gilded Bronze Head of the Buddha
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