A stone head of Buddha, Thailand, Mon Dvaravati, 8th / 9th century

Estate of Paul Van Katwijk (1885-1974), Dallas.

Steve Farr, Santa Fe.

The Mon kingdom of Dravati, a centre of Buddhism, flourished from the 7th century to the 11th century in current day central Thailand, and was noted by the Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang in the middle of the 7th century. A distinctive style of sculpture developed there, with iconographic elements derived from India, but with a unique native style, especially to the facial features of the Buddha, where thr beauty of sharply delineated eyes and stylised curling full lips is particularly apparent. These features impart an almost piercing serenity that is distinctive to Thai images from this early period of sculptural production in Southeast Asia. A closely related Mon Dvaravati stone head of the Buddha was sold in our London rooms, 8th December 2022, lot 190, from the collection of Sir Joseph Hotung.