A BLACK STONE HEAD OF BUDDHA, MON-DVARAVATI PERIODThailand, 8th-9th century. Powerfully carved, the ovoid face with a prominent, ridged brow, heavy-lidded and incised eyes, broad nose above full bow-shaped lips, the head flanked by elongated ears and surmounted by an ushnisha covered with snailshell curls.Provenance: A French private collection built between ca. 1980 and 2012. Thence by descent.Condition: Good condition,mensurate with age. Extensive wear, signs of weathering and erosion, small chips, and few losses.Weight: 3,700 g (incl. stand)Dimensions: Height 19.7 cm (excl. stand), 26.5 cm (incl. stand)Mounted to an associated Plexiglas stand. (2)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 number of Buddhist sculptures associated with the culture, it is most likely that the rulers were patrons of the Buddhist faith. The images of Buddha are heavily influenced by contemporary 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 therefore characteristic of the Mon Dvaravati style.pared 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 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. Their style was bold, self-assured, recognizable, and highly influential on subsequent Thai sculpture and artistic production throughout Southeast Asia.Auction resultparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: New York, 19 March 2019, lot 874Price: USD 43,825 or approx.EUR 46,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A blackstone head of Buddha, central Thailand, Dvaravati period, circa 8th centuryExpert remark:pare the related facial features, the color of the stone, and curls. Note the size (23.5 cm).Auction resultparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: Christie’s New York, 12 September 2012, lot 620Price: USD 31,250 or approx.EUR 36,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A black stone head of Buddha, Thailand, Mon Dvaravati period, 8th/9th CenturyExpert remark:pare the related facial features, the color of the stone, and curls. Note the size (26.7 cm).