A MONUMENTAL BRONZE HEAD OF BUDDHA SHAKYAMUNI Thailand, Ayutthaya. 13th-15th ct. H. 56 cm o. S. With high curved eyebrows emanate from the root of a very elegantly shaped nose, the hair is designed as a large plastic spiral, the ketumale spherical with a small tip. Around the lips of the smiling mouth are set fine lines as a contour. The small chin is indicated with a line and as another characteristic sign of the Buddha, the earlobes are elongated. Bronze with dark patina and reddish earth adhesions. Estate of Dr. Otto Schwend (1892 -1951), collected in Thailand between 1926 and 1938 and since then continuously in the family's possession, collector's card B 7 preserved, with the note that this head was bought from Phya Dejanu, former governor of the Northern province - Cf. Le May: "Buddhist Art in Siam", p. 130, fig. 157; Bernheimer: "Khmerkunst", p. 13; Doehring: "Indische Kunst", pl. 189 (note that Doehring dated a very similar head to this one around 1200) This overlife size head of Buddha Shakyamuni shows him in deep meditation having overcome the attacks of the demon Mara, god of desire, and his troops to prevent him from reaching Enlightenment. This spiritual transcendence has been well captured by the artist. In deep mediation with his eyes half-closed, the Buddha shows great serenity. These large heads were cast separate from their bodies and set together with plugs that often resulted in minimal damages to the neck rim