Votive seal depicting seated Tara thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 137, The Curtain Foundation Gallery

Votive seal depicting seated Tara

Votive Seal
9th century-10th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A votive seal with a seated figure of Tara, on a lotus-flower support, holding a lotus stem (padma) with her lowered hand whilst gesturing compassion with the other. She wears a finely patterned waist-skirt and a diaphanous shoulder cloth that partially covers her breasts, together with jewellery. In the background is a stupa, emblematic of Avalokitesvara, thereby suggesting an identification as Sitatara (‘White Tara’) or as Syamatra (‘Green Tara’); both are conceived as a female manifestation of Avalokitesvara-Padmapani. In the remaining spaces of the background are moulded verses of Buddhist creed (dharani), intended to generate mystic power.

Votive tablets of this type were produced in great quantities as a meritorious act by devotees or monks. The 'pie-crust' border is a more unusual feature. They are typically found at pilgrim centres and other holy Buddhist sites, especially where monks congregate, such as caves used in the rainy season retreat. The small metal moulds used to make these votives are eminently portable, and are known to have travelled widely in Buddhist Asia, aiding the diffusion of knowledge, especially of the cults of the Bodhisattva and Tara.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleVotive seal depicting seated Tara
Materials and techniques
Moulded terracotta clay
Brief description
Votive seal depicting seated Tara, terracotta, Bengal, eastern India, 9th-10th century
Physical description
Terracotta votive seal depicting seated Tara and 'pie-crust' edge
Dimensions
  • Height: 8.5cm
  • Depth: 2cm
  • Width: 8.5cm
Style
Gallery label
VOTIVE SEAL WITH SEATED TARA Terracotta BengaL, EASTERN INDIA Pala dynasty circa 9th century IS.122-1999 Bequeathed by Alexander Biancardi (25/09/2000)
Credit line
Bequeathed by Alex Biancardi
Object history
Bequeathed by Alex Biancardi
Production
Bengal, eastern India
Summary
A votive seal with a seated figure of Tara, on a lotus-flower support, holding a lotus stem (padma) with her lowered hand whilst gesturing compassion with the other. She wears a finely patterned waist-skirt and a diaphanous shoulder cloth that partially covers her breasts, together with jewellery. In the background is a stupa, emblematic of Avalokitesvara, thereby suggesting an identification as Sitatara (‘White Tara’) or as Syamatra (‘Green Tara’); both are conceived as a female manifestation of Avalokitesvara-Padmapani. In the remaining spaces of the background are moulded verses of Buddhist creed (dharani), intended to generate mystic power.

Votive tablets of this type were produced in great quantities as a meritorious act by devotees or monks. The 'pie-crust' border is a more unusual feature. They are typically found at pilgrim centres and other holy Buddhist sites, especially where monks congregate, such as caves used in the rainy season retreat. The small metal moulds used to make these votives are eminently portable, and are known to have travelled widely in Buddhist Asia, aiding the diffusion of knowledge, especially of the cults of the Bodhisattva and Tara.
Bibliographic reference
L'escultura en el temples indis : l'art de la devoció : exposició organitzada per la Fundació "La Caixa" i el Victoria & Albert Museum, Londres. [Barcelona: Obra social, Fundació "la Caixa", c2007 Number: 9788476649466 p.160, Cat.121
Collection
Accession number
IS.122-1999

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdApril 18, 2002
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest