Head of a Buddha
Object Details
- Description
- Carved head exists as a fragment with the back cut away and broken at the neck. Hair sits low on the forhead and has snail-shell shaped pattern. Proper left ear missing and proper right ear mostly gone. Downcast eyes, corpulent face with full cheeks and pursed mouth.
- Label
- Carved of dark gray limestone, this imposing Buddha head is characterized by a serene yet remote expression that is typical of early Tang dynasty religious images. Imperial patronage of Buddhism during the Tang dynasty, approximately seven hundred years after knowledge of Buddhism first reached China, resulted in the creation of some of the most impressive sculptures in Chinese history. For this Buddha head, all traces of Indian and Central Asian influence have been replaced by a native Chinese aesthetic. Sculptures of this style are found in the Longmen cave temples in Henan Province and may have been the source for this piece.
- Provenance
- ? - to 1965
- J.T. Tai & Co., New York, NY [1]
- 1965-1977
- Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987), New York, NY, purchased from J.T. Tai & Co., New York, NY [2]
- 1977-1987
- The Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, purchased from J.T. Tai & Co., New York, NY [3]
- From 1987
- Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation
- Notes:
- [1] The dealer number is YT 4498. See invoice from J.T. Tai & Co., dated March 24, 1965, copy in object file.
- [2] Dr. Arthur M. Sackler purchased this object from J.T. Tai & Co. in March 1965. He donated the object to the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation in December 1977.
- [3] See the paper documentation from the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation.
- Collection
- Arthur M. Sackler Collection
- Exhibition History
- Pavilions and Immortal Mountains: Chinese Decorative Art and Paintings (September 28, 1987 to February 28, 1988)
- Previous custodian or owner
- J. T. Tai & Co. (established in 1950)
- Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987)
- Arthur M. Sackler Foundation (founded 1965)
- Credit Line
- Gift of The Arthur M. Sackler Foundation
- ca. 700
- Period
- Tang dynasty
- Accession Number
- S1997.26
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- Sculpture
- Medium
- Limestone
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 76.2 cm (30 in)
- Weight: 129.3 kg (285.1 lb)
- Origin
- Probably Longmen caves, Probably Henan province, China
- On View
- Sackler: Level 2 Staircase Corridor
- Related Online Resources
- Google Cultural Institute
- See more items in
- Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection
- Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
- Topic
- stone
- Buddhism
- Buddha
- Tang dynasty (618 - 907)
- ushnisha
- China
- Chinese Art
- Record ID
- fsg_S1997.26
- Metadata Usage (text)
- Usage conditions apply
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ye3e1ee12fa-257f-45f0-bbaa-66c4f4f1b1f9
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