 or serving bowl (hachi)-d8edb243.jpg)
HEAD OF THE BUDDHA
The Buddha has a set of marks that indicate his status as an enlightened being. One such mark is curls in the shapes of spirals, often described as snail shell curls. One legend says that when the Buddha shaved his head to become a monk, his remaining locks spiraled into curls and never grew again.
This head belonged to a seated figure of the Buddha that was likely part of the architecture of a temple in Java. Because so many Buddhas adorned the temples, we do not know which temple this one came from or if the temple survives today. We also do not know if the head fell off in an earthquake or if it was intentionally removed.
Object Number
F1978.35
Date
late 8th–early 9th century, Shailendra period
Place of Origin
Indonesia
Medium
Volcanic stone (andesite)
Dimensions
H × W × D (overall): 32 × 22 × 24.4 cm
(12 5/8 × 8 11/16 × 9 5/8 in.)
Credit line
Transfer from the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution