Head of Buddha

Photo by Jules Barthoux ©GrandPalaisRmn - Guimet Museum
Location
Tapa Kalān
Description
The Buddha bears two of the characteristic marks: the uṣnīṣa and the deformed earlobes, a reminder of his princely childhood. The ūrṇā is missing, perhaps it was painted. The uṣnīṣa is represented by a wavy bun, a treatment found on the rest of the hair. The curls consist of waves of high relief strands of hair, going back and forth. The profile of this head is hellenizing: the forehead is broad, the arch of the eyebrow is straight, the swollen eyelids fall on half-closed eyes. The nose is aquiline, fine, the mouth sinuous. The round chin betrays a slight goiter and the cheeks are full and round.
Observations
Conserved in the National Museum of Afghanistan in Kabul, this head was completely destroyed.
Characteristics
Technique
Modelling
Material
Stucco
Object type
Figure
Site
Tapa Kalān
Conservation location
National Museum of Afghanistan
Museum inventory No.
MK 150
Traces of polychromy
No
Restoration
No restoration
Archaeological context
Head of Buddha
Technique
Modelling
Material
Stucco
Object type
Figure
Site
Tapa Kalān
Conservation location
National Museum of Afghanistan
Museum inventory No.
MK 150
Traces of polychromy
No
Restoration
No restoration
Archaeological context
Head of Buddha
Bibliographic References
Part of the themed route