Hello,

Your item is a Buddha head statue with a removable top, likely crafted from ivory and mounted on a wooden base. The piece appears to have been designed for some form of storage, with the top portion detaching seamlessly. The statue exhibits a serene expression with finely carved facial features and a textured ushnisha (cranial bump), a traditional representation of Buddha’s wisdom. The quality of the carving suggests skilled craftsmanship, potentially originating from Taiwan, as indicated by the provenance.

Historical Context:
Ivory Buddha sculptures have been crafted for centuries across Asia, particularly in regions such as China, Thailand, and Japan, where Buddhist iconography was deeply integrated into religious and artistic traditions. Carvings of this type were often made for personal devotion or as collector’s items during the 19th and early 20th centuries. However, ivory carvings became highly restricted in the late 20th century due to conservation efforts to protect elephant populations. Given the material and style, this statue may date from the mid-20th century, a period when high-quality ivory carvings were still being produced legally.