Alabaster Buddha Head On Stand from Shan State - 19th Century

This exceptionally beautiful 19th-century Burmese Buddha head originates from Shan State, Burma (Myanmar) and is finely carved from pale alabaster. The smooth, luminous quality of the stone gives the face a wonderful serenity, enhanced by the gently downcast eyes and subtle, contemplative smile.

The Buddha is depicted with the characteristic elongated earlobes, recalling the heavy earrings worn during his former life as Prince Siddhartha, while the tightly rendered curls rise to a prominent ushnisha, symbolising spiritual wisdom and enlightenment. Traces of the original painted decoration remain across the hair, eyes, brows and mouth, with warm red and dark pigments providing a striking contrast against the translucent white alabaster.

Burmese alabaster was particularly suited to devotional sculpture, its softly translucent surface lending a luminous quality to representations of the Buddha. The surviving areas of pigment and naturally aged surface give this head considerable character while preserving the calm expression of the original carving.

The head has subsequently been mounted on a simple ebonised display stand, allowing it to be appreciated as a sculptural object while leaving the historic carving unaltered. An exceptionally decorative and evocative example of 19th-century Burmese Buddhist sculpture.

• Origin: Shan State, Burma (Myanmar)
• Date: 19th century
• Materials: Alabaster, original pigments; later ebonised stand
• Features: Serene downcast expression; elongated earlobes; tightly curled hair; prominent ushnisha; surviving red and dark painted decoration
• Condition: Antique condition with surface wear and losses to the original painted decoration consistent with age; later mounted on a display stand
• Dimensions: W22 × D18 × H48 cm including stand
• Weight: 14 kg