A SANDSTONE HEAD OF BUDDHA, AYUTTHAYA KINGDOM Opinion: The present lot is a sad and at the same time hopeful testimonial to the sheer endless number of Buddhist images that were destroyed during two millennia of turmoil, upheaval, revolution and outright war. Sad, because the tragedy of brutal and mortifying repression is apparent in this statue, hopeful because even the most savage physical harm was unable to diminish Buddha's eternally peaceful appearance.

Thailand, 14^th-16^th century. The ovoid face sensitively carved with finely detailed facial features, the eyes with sinuous upper lids, the brows gracefully arched, the bow-shaped mouth with full lips and subtly incised mustache.

Provenance: French trade.
Condition: Extensive wear, signs of weathering and erosion, some losses, nicks, scratches, encrustations. The hair and top of the head have been cut off, evidently to mortify Buddha's image and diminish its function to merely a supportive structure.

Weight: 7,559 g (excl. stand) and 9,544 g (incl. stand)
Dimensions: Height 21 cm (excl. stand) and 39.5 cm (incl. stand)

Literature comparison:
Compare a similar incomplete head in H. Woodward, The Sacred Sculpture of Thailand, 1997, p. 179 and 198, cat. no. 68, fig. 179. Compare a related sandstone head of Buddha in the collection of the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, object number F2002.8.9.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie's New York, 23 September 2004, lot 71
Price: USD 15,535 or approx. EUR 23,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A large sandstone head of Buddha, Thailand, 16^th century
Expert remark: Note the better state of preservation and larger size (41.8 cm), however the present head would be of similar size in its original state.