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). This Buddha's face appears youthful, with upturned corners of the lips, slightly pointed ears, a peaked hairline, and long neck. These and other features indicate a date within Thailand's Ayyuthaya period, when the great capital city lined with Buddhas was constructed (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 sale, Collection of Siamese and Cambodian Antiquities, Curios and Relics, 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 the object record for F1909.48, Curatorial Remark 5, H. E. Buckman, 1964, 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. 70, 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)

Credit Line

Gift of Charles Lang Freer

ca. 1700

Period

Ayutthaya period

Accession Number

F1909.51

Restrictions & Rights

CC0

Type

Sculpture

Medium

Bronze

Dimensions

H x W x D: 26.3 x 17.5 x 19 cm (10 3/8 x 6 7/8 x 7 1/2 in)

Origin

Thailand

Related Online Resources

Google Cultural Institute

NMAA Southeast Asia

See more items in

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

Topic

casting

metal

bronze

Buddhism

Buddha

ushnisha

Thailand

Ayutthaya period (1351 - 1767)

South Asian and Himalayan Art

Charles Lang Freer collection

Record ID

fsg_F1909.51

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ye3d4308e5e-ebcd-4ca6-8dc8-d3a056f31bd1