Traces of pigment accentuate the eyebrows, eyes and mouth of this huge head. The hairstyle is typical of the historical Buddha Sakyamuni, with tight curls and the prominent usnisa or topknot. The mark on the forehead, expressing wisdom and openness, originally incorporated an impressive jewel. Once part of a monumental figure in a cave complex, the head would have looked down from high. Its symmetrical composition and serene expression would have inspired Buddhist followers standing below.
Physical description
Large 3-dimensional rounded face/head of Buddha, fractured at the chin. There is colour visible on his lips, eyes and eybrows, and his mouth is closed. His eyes look downwards. He has high arched brows, bobbled hair with an ushnisha (bun hairstyle). The eyebrows are curved in a butterfly shape, a Chinese sign of beauty, and the symmetrical composition and serene expression expresses Buddhist ideals - the renunciation of worldly desires and the attainment of enlightenment.
Place of Origin
Hebei, China (possibly, made)
Xiangtangshan, China (possibly, made)
Date
550 - 577 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Carved grey limestone with traces of pigment
Object history note
Loaned to Burlington House Fair Exhibition Sept. 9-20, 1987, Royal Academy of Arts. A similar sculpture is A.27-1914, and there are also similar works at Philadelphia University and Cologne. It would have been part of an entire figure, and displayed high up.
Historical significance: This piece is probably from the Xiangtangshan cave complex in northern China, of which the sculptures were scattered across international collections in the early 20th century. See the website about the project to create a digital reconstruction of what the cave complex would have looked like: http://xiangtangshan.uchicago.edu/introduction/
Descriptive line
Buddha head; Scu, North China, sculpture, Limestone, 550-577
Exhibition History
Sculpture (Victoria and Albert Museum, Gallery 47e 30/04/2007-30/04/2007)
Labels and date
Head of the Buddha
550-77 (Northern Qi dynasty)
Hebei province, North China
Traces of pigment accentuate the eyebrows, eyes and mouth of this huge head. The hairstyle is typical of the historical Buddha Sakyamuni, with tight curls and the prominent usnisa or topknot. The mark on the forehead, expressing wisdom and openness, originally incorporated an impressive jewel. Once part of a monumental figure in a cave complex, the head would have looked down from high. Its symmetrical composition and serene expression would have inspired Buddhist followers standing below. [69 words]
Limestone with traces of pigment
Probably from Xiangtangshan
Museum no. A.98-1927
Given by The Art Fund
Head of the Buddha
550-77
Northern Qi dynasty
Xiangtangshan, Hebei, China
Limestone with traces of coloured pigment
Xiangtangshan is a vast temple complex hewn out of a mountainside by local rulers. This stone head was once part of a massive, full-bodied sculpture of the Buddha. Carved directly into the rock face, it would have towered above worshippers, inspiring awe and deep reverence. On the forehead is a hollow that originally contained an impressive jewel.
Given by the Art Fund
Museum no. A.98-1927 [2009]
Production Note
This is probably from the Xiangtangshan cave temples in Northern China.
Materials
Limestone
Techniques
Carving
Subjects depicted
Buddha, Shakyamuni
Categories
Sculpture; Buddhism
Collection code
EAS
