Large Antique Burmese Carved Marble Buddha Head on Display Stand

A large life-size statue of Buddha head carved from a single block of white alabaster marble and painted with gold and black pigments. The sculpture was of an iconic Burmese "Shan-style" and dated to late 18th to early 19th century. The "Shan-style" Buddha statue is characterized by the particular bell shape of the ushnisha (Fa-ji; hair bun) the Buddha wears on his head, a serene facial expression with raised eyebrows, downcast eyes and a faint smile on the corner of his lips. Other characteristics include that the head was always rendered smooth without depiction of the hair curls seen in other style, and the earlobes were carved with curved lines resembling conch. The statue retains residues of the gold leaves gilt and polychrome paint on part of his head. It was professionally displayed on a raised custom-made wood stand. the head is approximately 17" high. Very heavy and substantial with wonderful patina and presence.
After the Burmese capital was moved to Ava in 1636 during the Second Empire of the Taungoo dynasty (1551-1752), Buddha images were increasingly made of marble with a smooth finish on the surface and the minimum decoration rendered the image a simple and pure appearance. This style lasted until the Mandalay period (1860) when the style of Buddha image became more ornate.