20th Century Thai Sukhothai-Style Patinated Bronze Buddha Head

Details

Description

A twentieth-century Thai cast bronze Buddha head modelled in the classical Sukhothai tradition. The sculpture is formed as a freestanding … Read more A twentieth-century Thai cast bronze Buddha head modelled in the classical Sukhothai tradition. The sculpture is formed as a freestanding head rather than a fragment from a complete figure and measures 6 inches high. The facial type follows established Thai Buddhist conventions associated with Sukhothai imagery, including downcast almond-shaped eyes, continuous arched brows, elongated earlobes, tightly coiled snail-shell curls, an ushnisha and a pointed upper finial.

The bronze surface retains a naturally developed multicolour patina comprising brown, reddish-copper, ochre and localised green oxidation. These tonal variations occur irregularly across raised and recessed areas of the casting, particularly around the hair curls, eyes and ears. The surface is not uniformly coated and retains the heterogeneous appearance of aged copper-alloy bronze.

The underside reveals hollow core-cast construction with a rough interior casting surface and residual pale core material. A small internal projection is present within the cavity. The sculpture is nonmagnetic, consistent with copper-alloy bronze construction.

At approximately 2 lb despite its compact 6-inch scale, the head is substantially cast. The modelling deliberately continues the visual vocabulary of historic Sukhothai Buddhist sculpture while remaining a twentieth-century Thai work rather than an antique Sukhothai-period object.


Measurements: 6 in H × 3.5 in W × 4 in D

Weight: 2 lb

Style: Thai, Sukhothai Style, Buddhist, Southeast Asian

Origin: Thailand

Age: 20th century, probably mid-to-late 20th century See less