Head of Buddha

Arts of Asia

Mon period, 8th‒9th century

Thailand, probably Nakhon Ratchasima province

This damaged over-life-sized Buddha head exemplifies the Mon-Khmer artistic style of northeast Thailand during the late first millennium CE. Carved from red sandstone, this Buddha head belonged to a large statue and was likely produced in a regional workshop in the area of modern-day Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat) province. Its broad face, elongated earlobes, nearly closed eyes, full cheeks, and delicately contoured lips convey a serene, contemplative expression. The large snail-shell curls adorning the head reflect a blend of imported and local artistic traditions. However, significant damage—including a broken nose, worn facial surface, and missing ushnisha (cranial protuberance)—suggests either natural dislocation or deliberate mutilation, possibly during later periods of conflict or looting. Although its original site remains uncertain due to the widespread displacement of artifacts, the ancient town of Mueang Sema is a strong candidate based on stylistic and material evidence.

Status: Currently Off View
Department: Arts of Asia

Artist: Pre-Angkorean
Title: Head of Buddha
Place: Thailand (Object Probably made in)
Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.: 701 CE–899 CE
Medium: Sandstone
Dimensions: 42 × 30.5 × 31.2 cm (16 5/8 × 12 × 12 5/16 in.)
Credit Line: Gift of Marilynn B. Alsdorf
Reference Number: 2016.422
IIIF Manifest The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world. Learn more.: https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/146854/manifest.json

Pratapaditya Pal with contributions by Stephen Little, A Collecting Odyssey: Indian, Himalayan, and Southeast Asian Art from the James and Marilynn Alsdorf Collection (Chicago: The Art Institute of Chicago in association with Thames and Hudson, 1997), 101 (ill.), 299, cat. 121.

Art Institute of Chicago, A Collecting Odyssey: Indian, Himalayan, and Southeast Asian Art from the James and Marilynn Alsdorf Collection, Aug. 2–Oct. 26, 1997, cat. 121.

Possibly with Robert Rousset, Galerie d’Art de la Compagnie de la Chine et des Indes, Paris, 1972 [invoice from Galerie d’Art de la Compagnie de la Chine et des Indes, June 21, 1972; copy in curatorial object file]; sold to James W. Alsdorf (1913–1990) and Marilynn B. Alsdorf (1925–2019), Winnetka, IL, by 1972 [on long-term loan at the Art Institute of Chicago, Apr. 7, 1983]; by descent to Marilynn B. Alsdorf, Chicago, IL, 1990 [publicly promised as a gift to the Art Institute of Chicago, 1997; signed a promised gift agreement for the work, Mar. 11, 2002]; given to the Art Institute of Chicago, Nov. 15, 2016.

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

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Place

Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

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IIIF Manifest The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.