53. 53W TÊTE DE BOUDDHA EN GRÈS THAÏLANDE, ÉPOQUE AYUTTHAYA, XVE SIÈCLE 49 cm (19 1/4 in.) high A SANDSTONE HEAD OF BUDDHA THAILAND, AYUTTHAYA PERIOD, 15TH CENTURY 泰國 大城時期 十五世紀 砂岩佛首 Provenance: With Claude de Marteau, Brussels, by 1980s Retaining much of the original pigmentation and majority of the features, this Ayutthaya stone Buddha head is one of the best preserved of its kind. Illustrative of the Sukhothai styles which were adopted into the Ayutthaya period, these merging characteristics coalesced during the 15th century. The oval face, flaming ushnisha, and heart-shaped hairline echo Sukhothai features, while the abstracted bowline converging at the bridge of the nose, long nose with downturned tip, thick hairband, small nubs for hair, and fainter smile are more indicative of classic Early Ayutthaya styles. Two images from this period, both of which are now in the Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, include a stone head displaying the confluence of these periods (25.65), as well as a bronze example attributed to the first half of the 15th century with resembling facial features (54.2799).