Not currently on display at the V&A

Sculpture

Sculpture
ca. 9th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

In the Buddhist tradition of Central Java, under the Sailendra dynasty, the use of precious metal for the making of small devotional images is well documented, gold and silver images having been found in recorded hoards. Precious metal images are rare compared to those cast in bronze not only because fewer were made, but also because the chances of escaping the jeweller's crucible were slim. These figures, which appear to have survived as an original triad, represent the bodhisattva (saviour figure) Avalokitesvara, accompanied by two female deities, Taras.


Object details

Object type
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
TitleSculpture (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Silver
Brief description
A Buddhist Triad, silver, 9th century, Central Java, Indonesia
Physical description
In the Buddhist tradition of Central Java, under the Sailendra dynasty, the use of precious metal for the making of small devotional images is well documented, gold and silver images having been found in recorded hoards. Precious metal images are rare compared to those cast in bronze not only because fewer were made, but also because the chances of escaping the jeweller's crucible were slim. These figures, which appear to have survived as an original triad, represent the bodhisattva (saviour figure) Avalokitesvara, accompanied by two female deities, Taras.
Dimensions
  • Seated figures 4.2 cm. height: 8cm
Object history
Purchased from Spink and Son for £8000. in 1991
Production
Central Java, Indonesia
Subject depicted
Bibliographic reference
Christie's Amsterdam, Fine Indonesian Sculptures cat. 7th June 1989.
Collection
Accession number
IS.80:1-1991

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Record createdFebruary 14, 2000
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest