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On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

The Sanchi Torso

Torso
ca. 900 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Madhya Pradesh (made)

The "Sanchi Torso" was discovered in 1883 during excavations of portions of the western gateway (torana) of Stupa number 1 at Sanchi. Its precise identification remained ambiguous until 1971 when the existence of two fragments of a companion figure were identified at the site. Traces of the nagapuspa, the flower symbol of the Bodhisattva Maitreya, identified the newly discovered figure and removed any doubts that the V&A torso represents the other premier Buddhist saviour figure, the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. Both bodhisattvas would once almost certainly have flanked a monumental Buddha image within a temple setting. The figure is one of the masterpieces of Indian Mahayana art.

Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Buddhism
Object type
Torso
TitleThe Sanchi Torso (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Sandstone
Brief description
Torso of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara (the compassionate one), ca. 900
Physical description
The "Sanchi Torso" was discovered in 1883 during excavations of portions of the western gateway (torana) of Stupa number 1 at Sanchi. Its precise identification remained ambiguous until 1971 when the existence of two fragments of a companion figure were identified at the site. Traces of the nagapuspa, the flower symbol of the Bodhisattva Maitreya, identified the newly discovered figure and removed any doubts that the V&A torso represents the other premier Buddhist saviour figure, the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara.

The torso appears to wear a waistcloth, the border of the upper hem being ornamented with a foliated scroll. There is a girdle with small kirti-mukha clasp, the upper band being engraved with small birds, elephants, rosettes and other conventional motifs. Other details include a broad jewelled necklace with small bell-pendants and a skin of the Black Buck (krishnajina) worn over the left sholder, passing across the body and round the right side.
Dimensions
  • Height: 119cm
  • Width: 58cm
  • Depth: 30cm
  • Weight: 290kg
Gallery label
(06/06/2011)
The Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (‘The Sanchi Torso’)

About 900

Avalokiteshvara was one of the two most popular bodhisattvas or
Buddhist saviour-beings. He wears a blackbuck skin and princely
jewels.

The figure comes from a shrine in the important Buddhist monastery at Sanchi.Together with a sculpture of the Bodhisattva
Maitreya, it flanked a monumental image of the Buddha. Although
long admired for its beauty, the torso was only identified in 1971
when fragments of the Maitreya figure were discovered at Sanchi.

Sandstone
Central India
Discovered in 1883 at Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh

Museum no. IM.184-1910


(1988)
THE BODHISATTVA AVALOKITESHVARA
Sandstone
Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh, Central India
Circa 900 A.D.

The "Sanchi torso" was discovered in 1883 during excavation of portions of the western gateway (torana) of Stupa No.1 at Sanchi. Its precise identification remained ambiguous until 1971 when the existence of two fragments of a companion figure were identified in a storeroom at the site. Traces of the nagapuspa, the flower symbol of the Bodhisattva Maitreya, identified the newly discovered figure and removed any doubts that the V&A torso represents the other premier Buddhist saviour figure, the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara.

IM.184-1910
Credit line
Purchased from Mrs Pattie Kincaid
Object history
Purchased from Mrs Pattie Kincaid for £80, 1910. Originally loaned by late Major-General W.Kincaid in 1891.

This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project.

RP 6373/1891 and 1910- 3185M
Historical context
The "Sanchi Torso" was discovered in 1883 during excavations of portions of the western gateway (torana) of Stupa number 1 at Sanchi. Its precise identification remained ambiguous until 1971 when the existence of two fragments of a companion figure were identified at the site. Traces of the nagapuspa, the flower symbol of the Bodhisattva Maitreya, identified the newly discovered figure and removed any doubts that the V&A torso represents the other premier Buddhist saviour figure, the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara.
Production
Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh, Central India.
Subject depicted
Buddhism
Summary
The "Sanchi Torso" was discovered in 1883 during excavations of portions of the western gateway (torana) of Stupa number 1 at Sanchi. Its precise identification remained ambiguous until 1971 when the existence of two fragments of a companion figure were identified at the site. Traces of the nagapuspa, the flower symbol of the Bodhisattva Maitreya, identified the newly discovered figure and removed any doubts that the V&A torso represents the other premier Buddhist saviour figure, the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. Both bodhisattvas would once almost certainly have flanked a monumental Buddha image within a temple setting. The figure is one of the masterpieces of Indian Mahayana art.
Bibliographic references
  • A Cunningham, Arch. Survey of India Reports, Vol.X, 1974-7, Pl XXI and pp. 62-4. B.Rowland: The Art and Architecture of India (Penguin Books, London, 1953)., Pl.95. The Art Quarterly, Detroit, Spring, 1949, pp.170-6. plate 27. V & A Small Picture Book No.7, Indian Art. J. Irwin, The Sanchi Torso, V & A Museum Year Book 3, 1972. Marshall & Foucher, The monuments of Sanchi, Vol.!!!, Pl 106 d. and Pl. 108 Fig a; and Vol,1, p.50. 70 Guy, John: 'Indian Temple Sculpture', London V & A Publication, 2007, p.59. pl.60. ISBN 971851775095
  • Buddhist reliquaries from ancient India / Michael Willis with contributions by Joe Cribb and Julia Shaw. London: British Museum, 2000 Number: 0714114928 p. 76, fig. 63
  • The art of India and Pakistan, a commemorative catalogue of the exhibition held at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1947-8. Edited by Sir Leigh Ashton. London: Faber and Faber, [1950] p. 49, cat. no. 205
  • Ayers, J. Oriental Art in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London 1983, ISBN 0-85667-120-7 p. 61
  • Irwin, John C., Indian Art, Victoria and Albert Museum, London: H. M. Stationery Office, 1968 pl. 7
  • Irwin, John; Indian Art: Victoria & Albert Museum departmental guide, H.M.S.O. ISBN 0 905209117, 1978 fig. 5, p. 7
  • Clarke, John; The New Robert H.N. Ho Family Foundation Galleries of Buddhist Art at the Victoria and Albert Museum, Orientations; vol. 48. no. 5, September/October 2017, p. 66, fig. 5.
  • Irwin, John, The Sanchi Torso, reprinted from the Victoria and Albert Museum Yearbook 3, 1972, published by The Phaidon Press. Bound with offprint from Journal of Indian Society of Oriental Art, New Series, vol. VI, 1974-75.
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
IM.184-1910

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Record createdFebruary 13, 2000
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O24780/the-sanchi-torso-torso-unknown/
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