A STUCCO HEAD OF THE BUDDHA TANG DYNASTY

the well-rendered face with plump cheeks and a gently rounded jaw, set with heavily lidded downcast eyes and a straight nose, above well-defined lips drawn in an enigmatic smile, the forehead centred with a faint circular indentation that once held an urna, all framed by large ears and neatly pulled hair, the hair and facial features highlighted with pigment, stand

The head is in its fragmentary condition with losses and flakes as visible on the photo which are all most likely to be contemporary to the time of its collection. The stucco has been stab‎ilized on the underside with gesso and there is an old repair to the right earlobe. The expression on the face and eye gaze are very serene.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This piece exhibits the refined characteristic of the Tang style. It is particularly notable for the attractive full cheeks and double chin that complement the round face, the curving eyebrows above half-opened eye-lids and the expressive eyes cast down in deep contemplation. These traits portray the Buddha as a worldly and sensuous being who is conscious of the human world, a style that originated in Central Asia and Northern India and was seamlessly absorbed into the striking plasticity of Tang China. During the Tang dynasty, stucco sculptures were produced at sites near the Silk Route, such as the Dunhuang cave complex, where many stucco sculptures are still housed.

See for example the painted stucco figures illustrated in Zhongguo meishu quanji, diaosu bian [Complete series on Chinese art, Sculpture], vol. 7, Shanghai, 1989, pp. 166 and 167. The use of stucco for making Buddhist sculptures was introduced to China from Central Asia where it became a popular medium in Kucha. Although highly perishable, stucco was cheaper and more readily available than stone and its plasticity also allowed craftsmen to carve sculptures more rapidly. Notable collections of earlier stucco images discovered in Kucha can be found in the Musée Guimet, Paris, the Hermitage, St. Petersburg, and most importantly, the Museum fur Indische Kunst, Berlin.