TÊTE DE BOUDDHA EN ALLIAGE DE CUIVREThaïlande, École de Sukhothaï, Kamphèng Phet, XIVe siècle A COPPER ALLOY HEAD OF BUDDHA Thailand, Sukhothai school, Kamphèng Phet, 14th century Cast with a sublime meditative expression with heavy lidded eyes. His elongated face with a prominent long curled nose sinuous eyebrows, coiffure of thick curls, and distended earlobes, stand. 43cm (17in) high. (2). Provenance: Mr. Pila, Plenipotentiary Minister of France to the Kingdom of Siam Robert Rousset, Paris (1901-1981), acquired from the above on 5 July 1925 Jean-Pierre Rousset, Paris (1936-2021) This large and imposing head of Buddha is rendered in the Kamphaeng Phet style, which echoes that of neighbouring Sukhothai, but with subtle differences, such as sharper overall facial features and eyebrows that form a continuous line above the bridge of the nose. In this example, superior quality is evinced in the meticulous execution of the curving lines of the barely-parted eyelids and thin but fleshy lips. Itpares favourably to another example sold at New York, 14 March 2016, lot 80. Also see another published in S.Lopetcharat, Thailand, A History in Buddha Image , vol.1, Bangkok, 2006, p.364. Literally meaning, 'diamond wall', Kamphaeng Phet was a walled city of pivotal economic and military importance. Founded by the Sukhothai King Li Thai (c.1346-1374) in the mid-14th century, it was ideally situated for river trade with Southern Burma, the Lan Na kingdom, and the Chao Phraya basin of Central Thailand. Later absorbed into the Ayutthaya Kingdom it served as a crucial fortress and strategic buffer in stymieing Burmese advances on the Ayutthayan capital during the Burmese-Siamese wars (16th-19th centuries). For further examples see J.Boisselier, Sculpture of Thailand , 1974, p.31, no.12. Alsopare with a Buddha from Wat Phra That in the Kamphaeng Phet National Museum (D.F.Rooney, Ancient Sukhothai: Thailand's cultural heritage , Bangkok, 2008, p.211; and another head, ibid , p.51). Cette grande et imposante tête de Bouddha est exécutée dans le style de Kamphaeng Phet, qui fait écho à celui de la ville voisine de Sukhothai, mais avec des différences subtiles,me des traits du visage plus nets et des sourcils qui forment une ligne continue au-dessus de l'arête du nez. Dans cet exemple, la qualité supérieure se manifeste dans l'exécution méticuleuse des lignes courbes des paupières à peine entaillées et des lèvres fines mais charnues. Il peut êtreparé favorablement à un autre exemple vendu chez New York, 14 mars 2016, lot 80. Voir également une autre pièce publiée dans S.Lopetcharat, Thailand, A History in Buddha Image , vol.1, Bangkok, 2006, p.364. Kamphaeng Phet, qui signifie littéralement « mur de diamant », était une ville fortifiée d'une importance économique et militaire capitale. Fondée par le roi de Sukhothai Li Thai (vers 1346-74) au milieu du XIVe siècle, elle était idéaleme