Buddha head. Burma, 17th-18th century. Bronze. Measurements:... Lot 59

Buddha head. Burma, 17th-18th century. Bronze. Measurements: 43 x 25 x 30 cm.; 68 cm. high with stand. Buddha's head in bronze. Each of his attributes explicitly identifies Sidharta Gautama: the prolonged earlobes symbolise wisdom as well as his aristocratic class origin. The hairstyle, topped with a bun, alludes in its form to a pagoda or temple. Its symmetrical, stylised features convey serenity and asceticism. The smoothness of the bronze flesh tones contrasts with the roughness of the hairstyle. Each of these features in the representation of the Buddha is called "lakshanas". The elongated earlobes allude to the large earrings worn by members of the upper classes in India contemporary to Sakyamuni, and represent the concepts of greatness, nobility and wisdom. From Burma (now Myanmar), it is dated to between the 17th and 18th centuries.