Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara
Figure
14th century (made)
14th century (made)

On display at V&A South Kensington
Buddhism, Room 18, The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Galleries of Buddhist ArtArtist/Maker | |
Place Of Origin |
This figure represents the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, the Buddhist Lord of Compassion. He is seen here in his popular manifestation as Padmapani, the lotus-bearer. The Bodhisattva’s right hand is lowered in the gesture of granting wishes (varadamudra). His left hand is ready to support the stem of the lotus (padma), but this is now missing.
Padmapani is a Bodhisattva, an enlightened being who voluntarily postponed passing into nirvana so that he could help others to gain salvation. The concept of the Bodhisattva was developed in the Mahayanist school of Buddhist thought, and gained enormous popularity in the Himalayas and the greater Asian world. The stillness and serenity of this figure speaks of the state of harmony to which the Bodhisattva aspires, whilst the flexed and sensuous pose in which he stands links him to the human world. The Bodhisattva’s right hand is lowered in the gesture of granting wishes (varadamudra), and his left hand is poised to support the stem of a lotus (padma), but this is now missing. The figure is richly adorned with jewellery that is inset with precious and semi-precious stones. A five-pointed diadem surrounds his elaborately dressed and raised hair (jatamukuta), which is surmounted by a small image of the Buddha Amitabha of whom Avalokitesvara Padmapani is seen as an emanation.
Newar craftsmen made this finely jewelled image for Tibetan patrons. It was probably produced in Shigatse, central Tibet, from where it was acquired. It exemplifies a long tradition of Newar craftsmen from the Kathmandu Valley working for Tibetan patrons in Tibet. This tradition can be dated back to the 7th century A.D. This masterpiece of Newari metal-casting was acquired by Brigadier-General C.G. Rawlings at Shigatse in 1904, whilst he was en route to Lhasa as part of the British Younghusband expedition. It is recorded that several members of the expedition acquired examples of ‘Lamaist’ art during the course of this journey.
Padmapani is a Bodhisattva, an enlightened being who voluntarily postponed passing into nirvana so that he could help others to gain salvation. The concept of the Bodhisattva was developed in the Mahayanist school of Buddhist thought, and gained enormous popularity in the Himalayas and the greater Asian world. The stillness and serenity of this figure speaks of the state of harmony to which the Bodhisattva aspires, whilst the flexed and sensuous pose in which he stands links him to the human world. The Bodhisattva’s right hand is lowered in the gesture of granting wishes (varadamudra), and his left hand is poised to support the stem of a lotus (padma), but this is now missing. The figure is richly adorned with jewellery that is inset with precious and semi-precious stones. A five-pointed diadem surrounds his elaborately dressed and raised hair (jatamukuta), which is surmounted by a small image of the Buddha Amitabha of whom Avalokitesvara Padmapani is seen as an emanation.
Newar craftsmen made this finely jewelled image for Tibetan patrons. It was probably produced in Shigatse, central Tibet, from where it was acquired. It exemplifies a long tradition of Newar craftsmen from the Kathmandu Valley working for Tibetan patrons in Tibet. This tradition can be dated back to the 7th century A.D. This masterpiece of Newari metal-casting was acquired by Brigadier-General C.G. Rawlings at Shigatse in 1904, whilst he was en route to Lhasa as part of the British Younghusband expedition. It is recorded that several members of the expedition acquired examples of ‘Lamaist’ art during the course of this journey.
object details
Categories | |
Object Type | |
Materials and Techniques | Gilt copper set with natural turquoise (as well as glass simulants), garnets, green transparent glass (foiled and tinted green), and colourless transparent glass (foiled and tinted red). |
Brief Description | Figure of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara (Padmapani), the Lotus Bearer, gilt-copper set with natural turquoise (as well as glass simulants), garnets, green and colourless glass. Produced in Nepal during the 14th century. |
Physical Description | Avalokitesvara, the Buddhist lord of compassion, is represented in his popular manifestation as Padmapani, the Lotus Bearer. Padmapani is a bodhisattva, an enlightened being who voluntarily postponed attaining nirvana, so that he could guide and help others to achieve salvation. The concept of the boddhisattva was developed in the Mahayanist school of Buddhist thought, and it gained enormous popularity in the Himalayas. The stillness and serenity of this figure coveys to the viewer the state of harmony to which the boddhisattva aspires. Whilst the sensuous contrapposto of Padmapani's sleek, androgynous body ties him to the human world. |
Dimensions |
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Gallery Label | The Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara
(Padmapani)
1300–1400
Malla dynasty
Nepal
Gilded copper with precious and semi-precious stones
Padmapani, or ‘Bearer of the lotus’, is one of the most
important forms of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara,
the most widely worshipped of all the bodhisattvas.
This finely jewelled image was made by Newar
craftsmen from the Kathmandu Valley for Tibetan
patrons. The figure’s left hand once held the stem
of a flowering lotus.
Museum no. IM.239-1922
Ex Younghusband Expedition 1904(1/4/2009) |
Object history | In 1904 this exquisite sculpture was acquired by Brigadier-General C. G. Rawlings, whilst he was in the Xigaze (Shigatse) District of central Tibet. Rawlings was a member of the Younghusband Expedition, which that year had fought its way from India to Lhasa. This was in order to force Tibet to engage in trade with British India. It was recorded at the time that several members of the expedition acquired examples of "Lamaist" art en route. By 1922, when this sculpture was purchased for £210, Indian sculptures had in general become increasingly prized for their aesthetic value as well as their antiquarian worth. Previously, there had been a preference for Gandharan works produced in a more Hellenistic style. |
Production | Acquired in Shigatse, southern Tibet, and possibly made there. |
Summary | This figure represents the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, the Buddhist Lord of Compassion. He is seen here in his popular manifestation as Padmapani, the lotus-bearer. The Bodhisattva’s right hand is lowered in the gesture of granting wishes (varadamudra). His left hand is ready to support the stem of the lotus (padma), but this is now missing. Padmapani is a Bodhisattva, an enlightened being who voluntarily postponed passing into nirvana so that he could help others to gain salvation. The concept of the Bodhisattva was developed in the Mahayanist school of Buddhist thought, and gained enormous popularity in the Himalayas and the greater Asian world. The stillness and serenity of this figure speaks of the state of harmony to which the Bodhisattva aspires, whilst the flexed and sensuous pose in which he stands links him to the human world. The Bodhisattva’s right hand is lowered in the gesture of granting wishes (varadamudra), and his left hand is poised to support the stem of a lotus (padma), but this is now missing. The figure is richly adorned with jewellery that is inset with precious and semi-precious stones. A five-pointed diadem surrounds his elaborately dressed and raised hair (jatamukuta), which is surmounted by a small image of the Buddha Amitabha of whom Avalokitesvara Padmapani is seen as an emanation. Newar craftsmen made this finely jewelled image for Tibetan patrons. It was probably produced in Shigatse, central Tibet, from where it was acquired. It exemplifies a long tradition of Newar craftsmen from the Kathmandu Valley working for Tibetan patrons in Tibet. This tradition can be dated back to the 7th century A.D. This masterpiece of Newari metal-casting was acquired by Brigadier-General C.G. Rawlings at Shigatse in 1904, whilst he was en route to Lhasa as part of the British Younghusband expedition. It is recorded that several members of the expedition acquired examples of ‘Lamaist’ art during the course of this journey. |
Bibliographic References |
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Collection | |
Accession Number | IM.239-1922 |
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record created | July 12, 2001 |
Record URL |