Shrine thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
The Himalayas and South-East Asia, Room 47a

Shrine

Portable Shrine
ca. 15th century-16th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Nepal (made)

Wood with paint and gilding, Nepal, c.15th-16th century


Object details

Categories
SCRAN
Buddhism
Object type
Portable shrine
TitleShrine
Materials and techniques
Wood, with paint and gilding
Brief description
Wood with paint and gilding, Nepal, c.15th-16th century
Dimensions
  • Height: 42.5cm
  • Width: 43cm
  • Depth: 8.5cm
Gallery label
Portable Shrine 1500–1600 Malla period The central niche, now empty, would have probably housed a metal image. The niche surround (torana), with its mythical animals and two flanking columns, is a miniature version of door surrounds found in Nepalese wooden architecture. Below the niche and inside the folding doors are many deities, including the Twenty-One Taras, an important group of protective goddesses. Wood with paint and gilding Nepal Museum no. IM.1-1938(14/06/2011)
Historical context
The central niche of this triptych, now empty, would have housed an image, either placed directly in the niche or possibly contained within a gau (amulet box), the latter more suitable for transporting. The niche is flanked by columns with "vase of plenty" (purnakalasa) bases, a feature of Nepalese wooden architecture. Two attendant deities pay homage and above a particularly flamboyant torana with garuda, nagas and makaras frame the niche. This group is surmounted by an image of Amitabha, seated in meditation on stylized rocks. Numerous deities and guardians occupy the subsidiary niches. A monk, presumably associated with the commissioning of this shrine, is seen on the lower register.
Subject depicted
Buddhist
Bibliographic references
  • PUBLISHED J.Lowry, 1973, no.48 cf. also Jnl. of Indian Society of Oriental Art, ns vol.iii, 1968-9, pl.vii, pillars at Harihara temple, Patan.
  • Tibetan art / John Lowry. London: H. M. Stationery Office, 1973 p. 107, cat. no. 48
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
IM.1-1938

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Record createdFebruary 13, 2000
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O24877/shrine-portable-shrine-unknown/
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