Country Group: South and Southeast Asia (Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam)

Item id: 415

This is an Ayuthaya Era sandstone Thai Buddha head with a wonderfully expressive face. I believe that it is from Northern Thailand. Stands close to 5 and 1/2 inches tall (8 including the attached base)by approx. 10 inches in circumference and weighs 44 ounces: it is larger than the dimensions suggest, so I put a 5 inch bronze ayuthaya Buddha in 2 photos to give a perspective of it's good size. I believe that it is from the Old Kingdom of Pha-Yao, which was in the far north east of Thailand near the Laos border. Buddhas from this area are almost always made of sandstone, and have distinctive faces with wonderful upturned mouths. It has losses to the finial and ears, and there is one gouge in one cheek. Also some expectable surface wear and soiling. A beautiful and desireable piece. I usually don't buy disembodied stone heads, as I do not want to support the desecration of ancient temple sites, but this one came in to the United States many years ago.