THAILAND, MON DVARAVATI STYLE, 8TH-9TH CENTURY

The Mon polity of Dvaravati was one of the earliest and most important societies in mainland Southeast Asia. Based around the Chao Phraya and Mae Klang river basins of central Thailand, the Dvaravati polity was known from early Chinese textual sources, as well as being mentioned in a single local inscription that dates to roughly AD 550-650. Due to the large numbers of Buddhist sculptures associated with the culture, it is highly likely the rulers were patrons of the Buddhist faith. The images of Buddha were heavily influenced by contemporaneous Indian sculptural styles, including the Gupta style based around the site of Sarnath. The facial features of the Mon Dvaravati Buddhist images, however, display arched, joined eyebrows which are unlike those found in India, and which are characteristic to the Mon Dvaravati style. Compared to earlier and later Thai kingdoms, Dvaravati was relatively geographically and economically isolated, which contributed to the distinct qualities of its sculpture, such as the aforementioned eyebrows, the broad, squared face, and the full, prominent lips. Additionally, the local stone was tough and difficult to work with, leading artists to prefer thick, strong features over softness and subtlety. This style was bold, self-assured, recognizable, and highly influential on subsequent Thai sculpture and artistic production throughout Southeast Asia.
Compare the present head with a fragmentary example in the same, characteristic polished black stone, sold at Christie's New York, 12 September 2012, lot 620.