Sculpture
15th century-16th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This Buddha head formed part of an image produced at Chiang Saen, which was one of the major bronze casting centres in the former kingdom of Lan Na, now present day northern Thailand. La Na remained an independent kingdom until 1897 when it was taken over by Thailand.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze cast in full relief using the <i>cire-perdue</i> (lost wax) process. |
| Brief description | Head of Buddha, bronze, Chiengmai, North Siam (Thailand), about 13th century AD. |
| Physical description | The head is of colossal proportions, and would originally have been adjoined to a torso from which it has since broken away at the neck. The ears are damaged and the ushnisha or flame of illumination is missing from the socket at the top of his head. Buddha's face is full and round with drooping lotus-petal eyelids, semi-circular eyebrows that meet at the root of his sharply-ridged aquiline nose, and a small mouth that is slightly upturned at the corners. His hair and ushnisha are rendered by regular rows of snail-like curls. The ivory or mother-of-pearl 'whites' of his eyes, and the black composition of his pupils are missing. The whole surface of the casting is covered with a fine blackish-green patina. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production | Found at Chiengmai, North Siam, (Tai Shan) School |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This Buddha head formed part of an image produced at Chiang Saen, which was one of the major bronze casting centres in the former kingdom of Lan Na, now present day northern Thailand. La Na remained an independent kingdom until 1897 when it was taken over by Thailand. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IM.79-1927 |
About this object record
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| Record created | December 4, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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