Indonesian Hotai or Laughing Buddha

Laughing with his whole face, which is not the usual approach in Buddhist art.

This Hotai or Laughing Buddha comes from Mojokerto, Indonesia, and is river stone. Hotai, known in China as Budai, is a figure of Chinese Buddhist folklore, a wandering monk associated with contentment and plenty. He sits cross-legged on a lotus base, his robe open across a round, polished belly. One hand rises at the chest, and the other rests on his knee, holding a string of beads. Deep creases gather around his closed eyes. The stone is a warm orange-tan. Twenty-six inches high and 22 wide.

The laugh goes all the way up to the eyes. Few things can make that claim.