Head of the Buddha
late 18th–19th century
Medium
Copper alloy, some with traces of leaf gilding.
Dimensions
Average height 10.2 cm.
Classification
Metalwork
Culture
Thai
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.1432
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Head of the Buddha*, in Thailand during the late 18th 19th century, the serene essence of Buddhist devotion in a compact form. Standing at an average height of 10.2 cm, it is fashioned from copper alloy—a durable medium favored for its ability to hold fine details and withstand time—adorned with traces of gilding that once gleamed like gold, evoking the divine radiance of enlightenment. In Thai culture, such sculptural heads embody the idealized features of the Buddha, from the elongated earlobes symbolizing wisdom to the serene expression radiating compassion. These works, cl...
About the Artist
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