The style of this head invites comparison with many of the Bodhisattva figures, dated to the 8th century, in the Tianlongshan caves, at Taiyuan, Shanxi. The execution of this carving, including the deeply undercut brows, the large, curling nostrils, strikingly full lips, pendulous nose, broad cheeks and coiffure have much in common with that of another head of a Bodhisattva which originally adorned cave 18 at the Tianlongshan complex. A further head of a Bodhisattva, sold at Christie's New York, 18 March 2009, sale 2268, lot 360, and formerly in the Arthur M. Sackler collections, purchased from J.T. Tai and Co., also shares these characteristics.|