Artwork Page for Buddha Head

Details / Information for Buddha Head

Buddha Head

철조 불두 [鐵造佛頭]

1900s

Korea

Medium
cast iron
Measurements
Overall: 41.8 x 33.7 x 32.1 cm (16 7/16 x 13 1/4 x 12 5/8 in.)
Credit Line
Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund 1997.146
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print
?

Did You Know?

The hole or dot between the eyes on a Buddha statue is called the urna, representing spiritual insight.

Description

This Buddha has a soft and gentle smile, a typical attribute of Korean images of the Buddha. His plum cheeks and soft smile remind us of his childlike purity while his nearly closed eyes show him in a moment of meditation. The empty divot in the middle of the forehead would originally have contained a jewel symbolizing the light emanating from the Buddha. His head is topped with a profusion of snail-shell curls and an ushnisha, a mound symbolizing the Buddha’s enlightenment.
Cast iron oxidized light brown depicts the Buddha's face with his eyes closed, horizontal slits marking his eyes and mouth. Rows of circular bumps create his hair. His nose has a narrow bridge and wide-set nostrils. A circular depression marks the center of his forehead and his ears extend the length of his forehead to mouth. It appears as if the head has been broken off at the start of the neck.

Buddha Head

1900s

Korea

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

Contact Us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please fill out the appropriate request form linked below:

Update or Correct Artwork Information

Imagery or Rights for Non-Open-Access Artworks

Report a Website Issue

Further Questions About This Artwork