Head of a Buddha image

The Buddha images of the former kingdom of Sukhothai (mid-1200s–1438) in north-central Thailand are the ideal of beauty for many Thai people even today. This head comes from such an image.

From about 1350 to 1440, Sukhothai and the kingdom of Ayutthaya in central Thailand flourished simultaneously. This head and the one next to it exemplify the two kingdoms’ styles. The oval Sukhothai head is all suave, echoing curves, and seems to combine serenity with a sense of radiant energy. The square Ayutthaya head, in contrast, emphasizes horizontals, and projects firmness and power.

Thermoluminescence testing has yielded a probable age for this object of 400 to 650 years. This sort of scientific dating helps museums ascertain whether an object is genuine. In this instance, stylistic evidence suggests that the head was made in the earlier part of the date range.