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Barnebys HQ
Brahegatan 10
BOX 5038
114 37 Stockholm
All auctions / Ancient Art / Thailand – Kingdom of Ayutthaya Bronze / copper alloy...
Important and expressive crowned head of Śākyamuni Buddha in bronze, belonging to Thai iconography of Phra Chao Song Khrueang, depicting the Buddha adorned with the attributes and ornaments of royal sovereignty. The work is linked to the Ayutthaya kingdom tradition and can be stylistically placed at the end of the 17th – beginning of the 18th century, a period during which representations of the crowned Buddha reached a high degree of decorative sophistication. The face, particularly majestic, features a broad forehead, strong brow ridges converging at the base of the nose, downcast eyes with hints of ancient highlights, a broadly drawn mouth and a serene expression. The sobriety of the facial modeling contrasts with the extraordinary richness of the adornment. The crown is organized in several superposed registers, combining beaded borders, floral motifs, rosettes, medallions and a spectacular upper frieze of flame-shaped rosette fleurs. Long ear ornaments complete this royal display. The back of the head is especially remarkable: a wide ornamental plaque with a reticulated lattice, framed by beaded borders and vegetal motifs, one of the most representative features of the vocabulary of Ayutthaya crowned Buddhas. The sculpture is made in a copper alloy of bronze type, using an internal-core casting technique. A substantial part of the old core remains preserved, which explains notably the unusually heavy weight of the head, close to 6 kg for only 23 cm in height. Traces of old coverings and gilding survive in the creases of the crown and ornaments. The surfaces display a beautiful old patina ranging from dark brown to bronze-red, locally punctuated by green oxidation. Wear and small losses naturally concentrate on the most exposed reliefs, while the hollows better preserved the old coatings. This head, formerly integrated into a complete sculpture, constitutes a strikingly decorative and powerful example of late Ayutthaya royal Buddhist statuary, remarkable both for its weight and sculptural presence and for the richness of its crown and the preservation of its later decoration. Dimensions without the base: 23 × 15 × 14 cm. Height with base: 28 cm. Weight without base: about 6 kg. The work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and expertise from MIMOSA SA. video link : https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/4cty4s3q8worlf37040us/AE2BvuIj3TdtXXiVdqeKS20?rlkey=tmjh5zs1yxfbijf3qnml7qn45&dl=0
Estimate:$4,486.16
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Estimate:
$4,486.16
OCT 17 | 10:00 PM
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