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Sculpture - Crowned Buddha Shakyamuni

Crowned Buddha Shakyamuni

  • Object:

    Sculpture

  • Place of origin:

    India (Made)

  • Date:

    12th Century (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Cast brass, inlaid with copper and silver.

  • Museum number:

    IS.46-1966

  • Gallery location:

    In Storage

Physical description

A seated Buddha with right hand in bhumisparsa mudra, touching the earth, denotes the moment before his Enlightenment when he called upon the Earth to witness his overcoming of the forces of Evil. Left hand on lap with palm upwards.

Place of Origin

India (Made)

Date

12th Century (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown

Materials and Techniques

Cast brass, inlaid with copper and silver.

Dimensions

Height: 9.5 cm, Width: 6.5 cm, Depth: 2.25 in

Object history note

Purchased from Mrs. A.M.Stodart, from whom it had formerly been on loan. According to a note in the 1966 V&A Register this Buddha, described as 'North India (Mahayana Buddhist); 11th-12th century', was 'Dug up near Congeeveram (the ancient Kanchi) in the Chengalpat district, Madras Presidency, having been buried probably in the 13th or 14th century', in common with V&A Museum numbers IS.44-1966 and IS.45-1966.

"This finely modelled figure closely follows eastern India sculptural models of the late Pala period (c. 10th-12th century). It was reportedly excavated near Kancipuram, in Tamil Nadu, southern India, prior to 1917. There was considerable mobility of images in the Buddhist world; another Burmese sculpture has been excavated at Nagapattinam, a major Buddhist centre in coastal Tamil Nadu." John Guy.

Descriptive line

The crowned Buddha at Bodhgaya, cast brass, Bihar, Eastern India, 12th century.

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

p.27
Arts of Bengal : the heritage of Bangladesh and eastern India : an exhibition organized by the Whitechapel Art Gallery in collaboration with the Victoria and Albert Museum : 9 November-30 December 1979, Whitechapel Art Gallery ..., 12 January-17 February 1980, Manchester City Art Gallery ... . [London]: Whitechapel Art Gallery, [1979] Number: 085488047X (pbk.) :

Labels and date

THE CROWNED
BUDDHA AT
BODHGAYA
Copper alloy, inlaid with
copper and silver
Bihar, Eastern India
Pala period
c.12th century

IS.46-1966 [25/09/2000]

Production Note

Bihar, Eastern India

Subjects depicted

Buddhist

Categories

Buddhism; Sculpture

Collection

South & South East Asia Collection

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