AN IMPRESSIVE BRONZE HEAD OF BUDDHA, AYUTTHAYA KINGDOM Thailand, 16th - 17th century. Superbly cast, the masterfully rendered face with a serene expression, heavy-lidded eyes and long sinuously arched brows, an aquiline nose, and full lips forming a calm smile, all detailed with elegantly curved lines, flanked by long pendulous earlobes, the hair arranged in tight snail shell curls over the ushnisha topped by a flame. Provenance: From a Swedish private collection, acquired in the local trade. Condition: Superb condition with wear, signs of weathering and erosion, and expected casting flaws. Some losses, minor nicks, shallow scratches, malachite encrustations, and remnants of gilding. The bronze with a smooth, naturally grown patina. Weight: 9.8 kg Dimensions: Height 57.2 cm (incl. stand) 41 cm (excl. stand) With a fitted wood stand. During the 14th through 18th centuries, Thailand's Ayutthaya kingdom became one of the most powerful forces in mainland Southeast Asia. Continuing the artistic trajectory set forth under the Sukhothai, the Theravada polity sponsored the production of Buddha images fashioned in a new distinct style. The faces display a curvilinear contour with the hairline lower, towards the sinuous brow line, accentuated by elongated ears flared at upper and lower tips. The eyes, extending evenly across the width of the face, are three-quarters closed to endow the figure with a sense of serenity that is at once inwardly directed and also engaged with the world. Literature comparison: Compare a related bronze head of Buddha, dated 16th-17th century, 33 cm high, in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, accession number AC1995.140.2. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Bonhams Paris, 12 June 2023, lot 52 Price: EUR 16,640 or approx. EUR 17,000 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A gilt-lacquered copper alloy head of buddha, Thailand, Ayutthaya period, 16th century Expert remark: Compare the related modeling and style. Note the missing ketumala flame.