Burma, 18th - 19th Century, Head Of A Buddha Worshipper In Polychrome Dry Lacquer, On A Stand

Figure of a Worshipper or Disciple of the Buddha

Northeastern Myanmar
18th–19th century

The face, of great gentleness, is characterized by a full and regular modeling. The broad forehead dominates the upper part of the skull, largely shaved to form a characteristic tonsure. Curvilinear eyebrows, delicately outlined in black, arch above heavy eyelids lowered over half-closed eyes. The interior of the eyeballs, tinted blue, reveals clearly marked pupils that enhance the liveliness of the gaze.
The hair, rendered as a few sparse locks at the back of the head, is held in place by a band adorned with a small ornament. The straight, slightly flared nose surmounts a mouth with thick lips and pronounced corners, lending the expression a nuance of benevolence. A broad, rounded chin harmoniously extends the oval of the face, while the elongated earlobes fall gracefully along the cheeks.

The technique of gilded dry lacquer, the use of polychromy, and the stylistic features of the face suggest an origin in northeastern Myanmar, probably from a Shan workshop near the Chinese border, where artistic and religious exchanges were numerous during the 18th and 19th centuries. This geographical proximity fostered a fusion between the Burmese lacquer tradition and the more pictorial sensibility characteristic of Chinese art, perceptible here in the delicacy of the expression and the meticulous attention to detail.

Gilded dry lacquer
Surface wear consistent with age
19.5 × 13 cm  without stand
From a French private collection

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