Ayudhya

Refers to the period surrounding the ancient city of Ayudhya that existed from the mid-14th to the 18th century. In sculpture, the period mostly features images of Buddha cast in bronze, stone, or stucco. In the early 14th century, a refinement of sculptural styles culminated in the eThong style characterized by several sub-types of Buddha images. One type features the Buddha figure with a prominent forehead, almond eyes, straight lowered eyelids, and conical curls on the head. A second type displays stronger Khmer influences apparent in the square face and austere expression. The third type of Buddha sculptural style manifests an elongated body and a smiling expression. In architecture, the period features temple-sanctuary complexes known as wat, the more prominent ones being Wat Thanmikarat, featuring a staircase decorated with stucco lions and a bai sema or boundary stone made of slate; Wat Phutthaisawan, featuring Khmer-influenced galleries, stupas with redans, and wall paintings; Wat Yai Chaimongkhol, featuring elaborate stupas and wihans and rectangular galleries; and Wat Phra Ram, featuring a square plan, brick construction, and artificial pools. Ceramic styles also mature in this period, featuring brilliant colors of jade green, light grass green, blue-green, brown, pale honey, and white.