Bust of Buddha

While the iconographic elements, such as elongated earlobes, cranial protuberance, and snail-shell curls derived from India, the local Mon people of Thailand gave their unique expression to the facial features of the Buddha. The beauty of sharply delineated eyes and stylized curling full lips was appreciated among the Mon, and these features impart an almost piercing serenity that is distinctive to Thai images from this early period of sculptural production in Southeast Asia.