Head of a Buddha (Mon-Dvaravati style)

Accession Number
1993/2.35

Title
Head of a Buddha (Mon-Dvaravati style)

Artist(s)
Dvaravati Mon

Object Creation Date
700-899

Medium & Support
grey limestone

Dimensions
20 5/16 x 8 5/16 x 7 1/8 in. (51.5 x 21 x 18 cm);20 5/16 x 8 5/16 x 7 1/8 in. (51.5 x 21 x 18 cm);4 5/16 x 7 1/16 x 5 3/4 in. (10.8 x 17.8 x 14.5 cm);15 3/8 x 8 5/16 x 7 1/8 in. (39 x 21 x 18 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of John Adams Thierry in memory of Louis Sidney Thierry

Label copy
March 28 2009
The early kingdom of Dvaravati, which ruled central Thailand from roughly the sixth to the eleventh centuries, adopted Buddhism in the middle of the seventhth century. Textual instructions and models, originally from India, delineated how Buddhas should be depicted, but this face’s slight smile and curvilinear lips; molded, uninterrupted eyebrow ridge; and high, wide cheekbones reflect Dvaravati ideals of perfected beauty. These features are joined by Indian symbols, such as the protuberance atop the head signifying expanded wisdom (ushnisha) and the curls that miraculously resulted when Siddhartha, the Buddha-to-be, cut off his long hair.
(Label for UMMA Buddhist Gallery Opening Rotation, March 2009)

Subject matter
Shakyamuni Buddha (head only)

Physical Description
Buddha head carved from grey limestone with serene expression, elongated earlobes and ushnisha, a proturbance on the top of his head indicating his expanded wisdom.

Primary Object Classification
Sculpture

Primary Object Type
head

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
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Keywords
Buddhas (visual works)
Buddhism
fragments (object portions)
heads (animal components)
icons (devotional images)

& Author Notes

Web Use Permitted