J.J. Lally & Co., Oriental Art / New York City, New York

8.
A GRAY LIMESTONE HEAD OF BUDDHA

Northern Qi Dynasty (550 - 577)

with finely carved small features set in a serene, contemplative expression, the eyes half-closed under elegantly curved elongated eyelids, the plain arched eyebrows joined at the bridge of the slender nose, the small mouth with slightly pursed lips showing traces of red pigment, the ears with long, slotted lobes, the hair carved in neat horizontal rows of stylized curls in the shape of blunt faceted knobs rising over the domed usnisa on top and continuing down onto the neck, with a plain section at the back of the head carved with a slot filled with corroded lead amalgam holding a two-pronged rusted iron armature to receive a separate halo now lacking, the fine-grained gray stone with well-finished surface showing through a worn layer of white pigment and with remains of buff earth from burial all over.

Height 9 ¹⁄₂ inches (24.2 cm)

北齊  青石佛頭像  高 24.2 厘米