Buddha head. Thailand, 15th century.

Buddha head. Thailand, XV century.
Patinated bronze.
Belgian black marble pedestal.
Measurements: 30 x 24 x 23 cm; 45 cm (with base).

Excellent oriental bronze of the 15th century. The refined style could correspond to the canons of the early Ayutthaya period, although with echoes of the Sukhothai tradition, characterized by the serene stylization and the search for harmony.

It exudes from its features an extraordinary serenity. Each of its attributes explicitly identifies Sidharta Gautama. The skull is covered with small, perfectly ordered curls, fused in uniform and meticulous relief. The ushnisha (cranial protuberance symbol of wisdom) may have been lost in this piece: since it was customary to place it on the head in the form of an elongated cone, sometimes topped by a small stylized flame, emblem of enlightenment.

Its symmetrical and stylized features convey serenity and asceticism. Each of these features in the representation of Buddha is called "lakshanas". The finely arched eyebrows are softly entwined over the bridge of the nose, creating a continuous and elegant stroke. The almond-shaped, low-set eyes bring serenity and catch the light in a subtle play of polished surfaces and patinas. The elongated ears, with extended lobes, evoke the Buddha's princely past and are worked with a clean stroke.

The bronze, of refined casting, has a uniform greenish patina, with satin-finished areas that reveal both the passage of time and the care taken in the original finish. The quality can be appreciated in the sharpness of the details and in the smoothness of the transitions between planes, which transmits a sensation of formal purity.