Buddha's head. Shan Kingdom. Burma, XIX century.

Buddha's head. Shan Kingdom. Burma, XIX century.
Carved rock.
Measurements: 36 x 21 x 23 cm; 46 cm (height with pedestal).

Head carved in stone. His features exude an extraordinary serenity. Each of his attributes explicitly identifies Sidharta Gautama: the prolonged earlobes symbolize wisdom as well as his aristocratic class origin. The hairstyle, topped with a bun, alludes in its shape to a tow or temple. Its symmetrical and stylized features transmit serenity and asceticism. Each of these features in the representation of Buddha is called "lakshanas". The elongated earlobes allude to the large earrings worn by members of the upper classes in India contemporary to Sakyamuni, and represent the concepts of greatness, nobility and wisdom.

Shan art is one of the most refined variants of Burmese art, with its own identity but influenced by the Buddhist traditions of Southeast Asia. The Shan Kingdom developed in various regions of the country (Burma, now Myanmar) between the 16th and 19th centuries. This style is one of the most distinctive variants of Burmese Buddhist art and reflects influences both local and from neighboring kingdoms, such as Lanna (northern Thailand) and the Ava Kingdom.