Crowned Head
Mon period, 8th‒12th century
Medium
Stucco
Dimensions
27.4 × 22.6 × 17.9 cm (10 3/4 × 8 7/8 × 6 15/16 in.)
Classification
stuccowork
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
131008
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This slightly damaged stucco head likely depicts a life-sized male deity (deva) and is characteristic of Mon art from central Thailand, dating to the late first or early second millennium CE. The square face, elongated earlobes, half-closed eyes, and prominent features create a calm, contemplative expression. A central ornament held by a beaded band suggests a crowned deity rather than a Buddha. The head was modeled in wet stucco and originally attached to a laterite structure, likely part of a ...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...