Large Buddha head from U-Thong, 15th century.

Large Buddha head from U-Thong, 15th century.
Provenance: Al Farahnik.
Stone.
In good condition.
Measurements: 36 x 24 x 26 cm
The U-Thong era corresponds to the early Ayutthaya period. In keeping with other depictions from this period, this sculpture shows the Buddha with his eyelids slightly half-closed, a symbol of spiritual concentration and purity due to their resemblance to lotus petals. The serene face is illuminated by a barely perceptible smile. A sinuous line traces the contour of the lips, marking with similar delicacy the perfect arch of the eyebrows, the almond-shaped eye sockets, and the bridge of the nose. Each curve has been carefully considered and balanced to convey the serenity characteristic of a perfect being. The elongated earlobes allude to the large earrings worn by members of the upper classes in India during the time of Gautama Siddhartha and represent the concepts of grandeur, nobility, and wisdom.