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This cast iron head was most likely coated with plaster, gold gilding and polychrome.

Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, was born the son of the chief of the Shakya tribe in India around 560 bce. He was later known as Shakyamuni, the "Sage of the Shakyas." Though raised surrounded by wealth, beauty and luxury, at age twenty-nine Siddhartha renounced the world and embarked on a spiritual search. After six years of intense effort he attained enlightenment, and spent the rest of his life teaching his understanding to others.

Buddha is depicted wearing a simple monk's robe with no ornamentation. His long earlobes result from having worn heavy pendant earrings in his youth. The bump on top of the head, called ushnisha, signifies "all-knowing," and a tuft of hair between the eyebrows, urna, symbolizes "all-seeing." These are two of the "32 physical marks of Buddha," some but not necessarily all of which are incorporated into Buddha images.