Sculpture, 16th century

Shakyamuni Buddha head in sandstone, Thailand, Ayutthaya, 17th century

Shakyamuni Buddha head in sandstone, Thailand, Ayutthaya, 17th century

17th century Thai Buddha head (Kingdom of Ayutthaya) carved on sandstone with a serene, delicate expression.The finesse of the master sculptors work is remarkable here: the large almond-shaped eyes with half-closed eyelids advocate introspection and humility, while the fine, well-defined mouth with pronounced corners preaches benevolence and universal love.He wears the Ushnisha, a cranial protuberance characteristic of Buddha and a symbol of his knowledge.This Buddha exudes emotion and wisdom, inviting the viewers eye and mind to meditative calm and enlightened concentration.This collectors item stands out for its fine craftsmanship and its expression of wisdom, from which emanates great spirituality.Traces of gold on the stoneware.The historic city of Ayutthaya, founded in 1350, was the second capital of the Siamese kingdom after Sukhothai. It enjoyed a period of prosperity between the 14th and 18th centuries, establishing itself as one of the worlds largest and most cosmopolitan urban areas. Ayutthaya also played a key role as a center of diplomacy and international trade. In the early 16th century, European travellers ranked it among the three great Asian powers, alongside Vijayanagar in India and La Calle. Considered the forerunner of modern Thailand, the kingdom of Ayutthaya occupies a major place in the countrys history. Its territory covered part of present-day eastern Myanmar (Burma), western Laos and as far north as present-day Malaysia. However, it was destroyed by the Burmese in the 18th century.

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