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Subject:A metal bust of the Buddha
Posted By: Tony Thu, Sep 30, 2021 IP: 23.243.126.110

Dear friends,
It is 15” x 6” and seems to be made of bronze (non-magnetic, cold to the touch, shinny orang-ish underneath).
I would greatly appreciate your time and kind help on the cultural style, period, ...
Thanks very much πŸ™πŸ˜ŠπŸ™
Tony







Subject:Re: A metal bust of the Buddha
Posted By: Bill H Tue, Oct 05, 2021

This head is a Buddha image from Thailand in the style of the Sukkothai Kingdom (1238-1438). The Thais have rather strict patrimonial laws governing the export of religious images, although many images and mounted heads were produced and sold illegally to military and other Western personnel serving or visiting there and in neighboring Laos during the Vietnam War years, which ended for the USA in 1975. Taking into account the amount of dirt that has accumulated on this head, which would have been bathed scrupulously if ever used for actual worship, it is one of the later reproductions made for nonbelievers.

Best regards,

Bill H.

Subject:Re: A metal bust of the Buddha
Posted By: Tony Wed, Oct 06, 2021

Thanks so much Bill H. for your time and kind help explaining throughly the facts around what this is supposed to be πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™
Just a (funny) thought, if the amount of dirt trace is the determining factor for authenticity and I am to take a thorough bath for it to remove all trace of dirt, which I did in a small area and it was hard to, would that than qualify this as a supposedly looking β€œworshiped” one ? πŸ˜†
What else (design, patina, quality of work, ...) can be helpful to determine? ... just honest question πŸ˜ŠπŸ™

Subject:Re: A metal bust of the Buddha
Posted By: Gman Thu, Oct 07, 2021

Worshipers of Buddha don't cut the heads off of revered statues, nor would they worship a dismembered head of a Buddha.
Every Buddha statue depicts a particular aspect of the life of Buddha.
FYI, if you are ever in Thailand, don't ask any questions about the Buddha (or The King)in joking terms, they won't be amused...not at all.
These types of faux ancient artifacts depicting ancient civilizations mounted on a display board were popular in the late 1980's, made of stone, bronze, pot metal, brass, marble and all were made to look old. It is strictly decoration, and in the case of The Buddha, could be seen as offensive to devotees.



Subject:Re: A metal bust of the Buddha
Posted By: Tony Fri, Oct 08, 2021

Dear Gman,
Thanks very much for your time and kind help πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™
As a devoted Buddhist myself, concept of respecting does not even exist, left alone disrespecting, if you know what I mean !
What I meant by β€œfunny” is to avoid being misunderstood as being β€œcritical” on the previous expert help.
If it came across as being β€œamused” or disrespectful, I am sorry for that feeling, coming from your part, not mine!
I am learning about Asian Arts and as a scientist, I am very sincere and trained to ask question based on facts and factual evidences.
Best regards,
Tony 😊

Subject:Re: A metal bust of the Buddha
Posted By: Stan Fri, Oct 08, 2021

Tony said: "I am to take a thorough bath for it to remove all trace of dirt, which I did in a small area and it was hard to"

Hard to remove dirt is an indication that the dirt was deliberately applied with glue or binder and its intent is to deceive the buyer into thinking that the object is old.

Cheers,
Stan

Subject:Re: A metal bust of the Buddha
Posted By: Tony Sat, Oct 09, 2021

Dear Stan,
Thanks so very much again for your time and expert opinion! I greatly appreciate your kind help and others, as always πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™
Please see below picture of area where I brushed off a sticky thing (dried rice ?) with a small brush and water, as compared to the first picture of the last set.
I am learning and truly appreciate your teaching as well as teaching from Bill H. and Gman on this!
Like how Blue and White or other ceramic objects of which as I’ve learned from Mark Adams and others that looked at the quality of the drawing, the shades of the colors, the base, ... the question that I am trying to get to iis that beside trace of dirt topic as indication, is there other indications I should reliably consider for metal objects?
Beside personal β€œbelief” ( more like the way of life), I am fascinated with objects with images of Buddhism and have collected close to a hundred items. This particular one was β€œgiven” to me by an older lady who lives in a mobile home on the street. Upon her giving, I told her that β€œI wished that she could have decided to keep it but sincerely appreciated that she passed it on to me”.
Old or new, the statue means a lot to me, and I just want to learn some facts about it 😊
I really appreciate all the help that you all have provided me with πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™
Tony







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