Head of a Buddha

Object Details

• Label

  In 1909, Charles Lang Freer purchased this and three other bronze heads of the Buddha from the American Art Galleries in New York City (F1909.48-51). Remarkably different in style, the heads reveal the range of artistic possibilities within the strictures of a single iconographic form. Here, the Buddha's face appears supple with gently undulating curves. The rich brown surface retains flecks of gilding, especially in the folds of the ear and coiled hair. The eyes are heavy-lidded, their downward gaze finding an echo in the upturned mouth. The chin is full and the pierced ears flare slightly to the sides. Taken together, these features suggest a date of around 1500, within Thailand's Lan Na period (14th--15th century). Thailand's Buddhist art is remarkable for the way the image of the Buddha transforms subtly across centuries of casting in bronze.

• Provenance

  Unnamed Siamese official [1]

  To 1909

  Mr. Gadelius, to 1909 [2]

  From 1909 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased at the sale of Siamese and Cambodian Collection, American Art Association, New York April 6, 1909 [3]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [4]

  Notes:

  [1] According to Curatorial Remark 5, H. E. Buckman, 1964, in the object record, the Envelope File contained the following note by C. L. Freer, dated February 26, 1918: "Bronze head of Buddha, life sized. Brought to New York City by Mr. Gadelius during the winter of 1908-1909, and sold along with other Siamese and Cambodian objects, at the American Art Galleries, on April 6, 1909. Mr. Gadelius assured me that this head came from the ruins of Angkor Wat, Cambodia; and this statement appears in the catalogue of the sale. I attended the sale personally and purchased at the same time three other heads, S.I. 68 (F1909.49), 69 (F1909.50) and 70 (F1909.51)." According to Curatorial Remark 6, Louise Cort, February 18, 2002, "The catalogue of the sale of Siamese and Cambodian objects (6 April 1909) noted that they had been accumulated over a period of thirty-five years by a Siamese official."

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] See note 1. See also, Original Bronze List, S.I. 67, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

  [4] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Previous custodian or owner

  Mr. Gadelius (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  Thailand

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Sculpture

• Restrictions and Rights

  CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1500s

• Name

  Gadelius, Freer, Charles Lang, buddha

• Place

  Thailand

• Topic

  Gilding, Bronze, South Asian and Himalayan Art, Charles Lang Freer collection, Art, Sculpture, Lan Na period (1251 - 1774), Metal-work, Ushnisha

• Culture

  Buddhists, Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Object Type

  Sculpture