Nepalese Head of Buddha with Jeweled Crown

Gold skin, blue hair, and a crown that keeps climbing.

This head of Buddha with jeweled crown is from Nepal, 20th century, in gilded and painted copper repousse set with semi-precious stones. Newar metalworkers in Nepal have long been known for repousse, hammering sheet metal into form from behind. The face is smooth and calm, the eyes painted and slightly lowered, the lips red, the brow marked with a small green stone. Blue curls line the forehead beneath tiered crown points studded with turquoise blue and coral red stones. Thirty-two inches high.

Serene, at a scale that is hard to ignore.