Sui Serpentine Marble Head of a Bodhisattva

This is a very rare green serpentine marble head of a Bodhisattva. The deity is depicted wearing a huge crown, which still shows traces of red and yellowish paint. Although the torso of the sculpture is missing we can postulate that it is originally in standing form, derived from its facial expression and downcast eyes.
The extensively decorated crown depicts three Buddhas and five halos, possibly indicating the temporal and spatial tri- Buddhas, positioning the present Buddha Shakyamuni (Vairocana) at the centre. Hints of red suggests previous gilding of ferrous mineral paint. It is a showcase of splendid craftsmanship, which achieves a sense of three-dimensional perspective through intelligent carving, emphasizing the differences between background and foreground.

This form of green serpentine is mainly produced in the Henan province in China, where many of these are carved and polished to produce jadeite trinkets. – (HK.2018)