Longmen Grottoes
Tang dynasty, 618 – 907
Height: 19cm
The limestone head of this Buddha has a plump , oval face with a small distinct chin. Arching eyebrows slope down into the straight, thin nose, Well-carved, almond-shaped eyes defined with sharp, incised lines cast a downward gaze. The full lips are pursed into a frown. Fleshy, elongated earlobes and hair with finely chiseled lines frame the face. The hair is gathered into strands pulled up to the topknot. There are traces of polychrome pigment.
PROVENANCE:
A renown Chinese artist and collector, by repute;
Yan Collection, Brooklyn, New York 1999.
Weisbrod Chinese Art, Ltd., until 2005
Private Canadian Collection
The full cheeked, stern face with upturned eyes and a chiseled nose are characteristic of the Tang dynasty. The hairline and the chiseling of the strands of hair are similar to two Buddha heads from Longmen illustrated in the Collection of M. and Mme. Leon Valiez, Pairs (S. Lion-Gold-schmidt, Chinese Art, number 21) and the Collection of C.K. Chan (Ancient Chinese Buddhist Sculpture: The C.K. Chan Collection, Taiwan, R.O.C., 1989, number 4).
Other similar heads are illustrated by C. K. Chan, Wen Yucheng and Wang Zhenguo in Lost Statues of Longmen Cave, 56, 57, 59, 64 and 67.