Buddha's head. Burma or Thailand, 18th century. Patinated bronze.

Buddha's head. Burma or Thailand, 18th century.
Patinated bronze.
Measurements: 15 cm. height of head; 7,5 cm. height of pedestal.
Buddha's head in bronze. Each of his attributes explicitly identifies Sidharta Gautama: the prolonged earlobes symbolise wisdom as well as his aristocratic class origin. His symmetrical and stylised features convey serenity and asceticism. The smoothness of the bronze flesh tones contrasts with the curls of the hairstyle. The hairstyle is topped with a bun to allude to the idea of a pagoda or temple. Each of these features in the depiction of the Buddha is called a 'lakshanas'. The elongated earlobes allude to the large earrings worn by members of the upper classes in India at the time of Sakyamuni, and represent the concepts of greatness, nobility and wisdom.