G743 SANDSTONE HEAD OF BUDDHA MUCHALINDA

KHMER, ANGKOR PERIOD

ANGKOR WAT STYLE

12^TH CENTURY

H. 28 CMS, 11 INS

Mounted on a polished mahogany base.

A beautiful and large, crowned and jewelled sandstone head of Buddha Muchalinda, with a serene expression and adorned with a diadem and heavy earrings.

The naga Muchalinda protected the Buddha during a torrential rainstorm on the sixth day after his enlightenment.

For a complete figure of Buddha Muchalinda of similar date in the Musée Guimet, please see cat. no. 74 in Angkor et dix siècles d’art Khmer, Exhibition catalogue, Paris: Réunion des Musées Nationaux, 1997.

Provenance: Acquired by Sir Anthony Rumbold, 10th Baronet, while he was Ambassador to Thailand from 1965-67. Thence by descent to his son (signed letter available).