Important Buddha Head

Upper Central Thailand

Kamphaeng Phet province, 15th century

Bronze with traces of gilding

H34 x W16.5cm  

Provenance: Private French collection

This masterfully sculpted head of the Buddha originates from Kamphaeng Phet, a key provincial center of the Sukhothai kingdom in 15th-century Thailand. Exemplifying the spiritual refinement and stylistic grace of the Sukhothai artistic tradition, the head displays the classic hallmarks of the period: a gentle oval face with downcast eyes in meditative repose, arched eyebrows seamlessly joined above a subtle nose bridge and a delicate smile—the so-called "Sukhothai smile" that conveys inner peace and enlightenment. The curve of the nose contributes to the overall graceful rhythm of the face. A narrow heart-shaped band separates forehead and the small curls.

The precise carving of the mouth gives the lips a softness and clarity that enhance the meditative expression of the face. The accentuated chin reinforces the Buddha’s calm authority.

The tightly coiled curls of the ushnisha, rendered in high relief and once gilded, crown the head in perfect symmetry, symbolizing the Buddha’s transcendent wisdom. The long and pointed earlobes frame the face in a very elegant way. 

Kamphaeng Phet, situated circa 80 kilometers south of Sukhothai and its sister city of Si Satchanalai, was an enclosed city established in the mid-fourteenth century. Beautiful Buddha images were there produced in a style that incorporated Sukhothai elements.

The subtle brown reddish patina, the traces of original gilding and the smooth polished surface reflect centuries of devotional use.