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Thai
Gilt Bronze Artifact
Sukhothai
Buddha
Siam,
circa: 16th century
H
4.5 in.(11cm.), W 2 in.(5cm.), D 2 in.(5cm.)
MEASUREMENT
INCLUDING WOOD BASE IS 6" H
Condition:
very good
This
beautiful head is imbued with the esthetic values of the Sukhothai
period, emphasizing the spirituality of the Buddha by etherealizing
his physical form. A Buddha of the Sukhothai is majestic in
serene simplicity, conforming to the defining marks set out
in ancient Pali texts including “skin so smooth that dust
cannot stick…head like an egg…hair like scorpion stings…nose
like a parrot’s beak…earlobes lengthened by the earrings of
royalty…eyebrows like drawn bows.” The Sukhothai convention
of projecting arcs for the eyebrows is seen; the brows meet
in the center and form a ridge that runs to the tip of the
nose, which is finely modeled in distinct detail. The mouth
bears a slight smile with dimpled corners. The flame atop
the bun is described in pleasingly simple curves. Traces of
paint remain that define the whites of the eyes. Most of the
heavy gilding is intact, with spots of oxidation of a rich
jade green. --RW
Private Collection
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