Avalokiteshvara, bronze sculpture, Asia

This statue is one of a series of large, bronze Buddhist images found in northeast Thailand. Avalokiteshvara is recognizable by his hairstyle, a tower of curls in which a figure of the Buddha Amitabha is seen meditating. This statue has recently been cleaned and restored to reveal the original patina. Its silvery appearance is due to the high tin content of the bronze.