Object Details
Label
In 1909, Charles Lang Freer purchased this and three other bronze heads of the Buddha from the American Art Galleries in New York City (F1909.48-51). This Buddha's face appears youthful, with upturned corners of the lips, slightly pointed ears, a peaked hairline, and long neck. These and other features indicate a date within Thailand's Ayyuthaya period, when the great capital city lined with Buddhas was constructed (14th--15th century). Thailand's Buddhist art is remarkable for the way the image of the Buddha transforms subtly across centuries of casting in bronze.
Provenance
Unnamed Siamese official [1]
To 1909
Mr. Gadelius, to 1909 [2]
From 1909 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased at sale, Collection of Siamese and Cambodian Antiquities, Curios and Relics, American Art Association, New York
April 6, 1909 [3]
From 1920
Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [4]
Notes:
[1] According to the object record for F1909.48, Curatorial Remark 5, H. E. Buckman, 1964, the Envelope File contained the following note by C. L. Freer, dated February 26, 1918: "Bronze head of Buddha, life sized. Brought to New York City by Mr. Gadelius during the winter of 1908-1909, and sold along with other Siamese and Cambodian objects, at the American Art Galleries, on April 6, 1909. Mr. Gadelius assured me that this head came from the ruins of Angkor Wat, Cambodia; and this statement appears in the catalogue of the sale. I attended the sale personally and purchased at the same time three other heads, S.I. 68 (F1909.49), 69 (F1909.50) and 70 (F1909.51)." According to Curatorial Remark 6, Louise Cort, February 18, 2002, "The catalogue of the sale of Siamese and Cambodian objects (6 April 1909) noted that they had been accumulated over a period of thirty-five years by a Siamese official."
[2] See note 1.
[3] See note 1. See also, Original Bronze List, S.I. 70, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.
[4] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Previous custodian or owner
Mr. Gadelius (C.L. Freer source)
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Date
ca. 1700
Period
Ayutthaya period
Accession Number
F1909.51
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Type
Sculpture
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
H x W x D: 26.3 x 17.5 x 19 cm (10 3/8 x 6 7/8 x 7 1/2 in)
Origin
Thailand
Related Online Resources
Google Arts & Culture
NMAA Southeast Asia
See more items in
National Museum of Asian Art
Data Source
National Museum of Asian Art
Topic
casting
metal
bronze
Buddhism
Buddha
ushnisha
Thailand
Ayutthaya period (1351 - 1767)
South Asian and Himalayan Art
Charles Lang Freer collection
Link to Original Record
Record ID
fsg_F1909.51