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Monumental Shan Burmese Gilt Lacquer Buddha Head, Early 20th Century
About the Item
A Burmese gilt dry lacquer monumental head of the Buddha, Shan States, Myanmar (Burma), early 20th century.
This monumental dry lacquer and gilt head would originally have been part of a larger-than-life-sized statue of the Buddha.
The warm, richly gilt face of the Buddha is beautifully welcoming and serene. He stares blissfully and eternally into the distance from shell inlaid eyes under high, arched brows. His lips turned up in a secret smile.
The Buddha's full, round face is also framed by long, pendulous earlobes that hang down to touch his shoulders. Long earlobes are a reminder of the Buddha's princely and noble past. His hair comprised of small lacquer "spikes", typical of Shan Burmese artistry.
The top of the Buddha head rises to a pronounced ushnisha, a large bump, and one of the major identifying marks of the Buddha. The ushnisha is further topped by a tall, removable carved wood finial in the form of a lotus bud.
This Buddha head is crafted in the dry lacquer technique, in which a mold is sculpted from paper pulp (papier mâché), then covered with layers upon layers of lacquer - a process that can take months, or even years, as each lacquer layer must dry completely before the next one is applied. During this long application and drying process, the paper mold disintegrates, leaving only the outer shell of pure lacquer, which is then gilt and further embellished.
Measures: Height of head only 24" (15" without finial)
Mounted on a custom wooden stand.
- Dimensions:Height: 31 in (78.74 cm)Width: 11 in (27.94 cm)Depth: 10 in (25.4 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Early 20th Century
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor structural damages. Part of a larger sculpture. With a few stable surface cracks around the ears and neck as well as to the face, as seen in photos. Cracks to not go all the through.
- Seller Location:Austin, TX
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU894718564252
About the Seller
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1stDibs seller since 2010
305 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Austin, TX
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
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