510 - (R) A THAI STUCCO HEAD, AYUTTHYA PERIOD, 18TH CENTURY

(R) A THAI STUCCO HEAD, AYUTTHYA PERIOD, 18TH CENTURY Dimensions: Height 20 cm Wide 10 cm Depth 13 cm without base Weight: 2613 grams with base A Thai stucco head modelled with a serene oval face, gently downcast eyes, softly arched brows and a restrained smile. The features are broad and calm rather than sharply cut, giving the head a quiet meditative presence. The pale earthen surface shows tool marks, abrasions and areas of weathering, while the roughly finished reverse indicates that the head once formed part of a larger figure or architectural setting. Stucco played an important role in Thai temple decoration because it could be modelled directly onto masonry or built up over a core, allowing sculptors to create large sacred figures and architectural reliefs with relative freedom. Detached heads such as this retain something of that original architectural function: they were conceived to be read within a shrine, niche or temple environment rather than as isolated sculpture. The modern wood-and-metal stand allows the head to be viewed in the round while preserving the fragmentary character of the original work. Its appeal lies in the gentle expression, warm aged surface and the sense of monumental calm condensed into a surviving fragment. For lots marked with (R), a 19% VAT is added to the combined hammer price and commission. This VAT is waived for: - Private buyers outside the EU who officially export the items.- Businesses inside the EU holding a valid VAT number, exporting to their home country. Proper export documentation is required to waive the VAT