Bodhisattva Maitreya thumbnail 1
Bodhisattva Maitreya thumbnail 2
+2
images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Buddhism, Room 18, The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Galleries of Buddhist Art

Bodhisattva Maitreya

Figure
2nd century-4th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Gandhara (made)

Torso of the Bodhisattva Maitreya, the benevolent saviour of the Buddhist pantheon. He is attired in the princely dress of the day, with jewellery and other ornaments. However, he also displays the signs of potential Buddhahood, including the raised hair-knot (usnisa) and the forehead mark (urna).


Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Buddhism
Object type
Figure
TitleBodhisattva Maitreya (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Schist
Brief description
Bodhisattva Maitreya, schist, 2nd-4th century AD, Gandhara.
Physical description
Torso of the Bodhisattva Maitreya, the benevolent saviour of the Buddhist pantheon. He is attired in the princely dress of the day, with jewellery and other ornaments. However, he also displays the signs of potential Buddhahood, including the raised hair-knot (usnisa) and the forehead mark (urna).
Dimensions
  • Height: 119cm
  • Width: 58cm
  • Depth: 30cm
  • Weight: 290kg
Style
Kushan
Gallery label
  • The Bodhisattva Maitreya 100–400 Kushan period A bodhisattva is a future Buddha who is on the path to enlightenment but choses to remain on earth to help others find salvation. Bodhisattvas are usually depicted wearing princely dress and jewellery. Here Maitreya also displays the signs of potential Buddhahood, including the raised hair knot (ushnisha) and the forehead mark (urna). The figure was found in Gandhara, where Buddhist sculpture was influenced by Greek and Roman art through invasion, migration and trade. Schist Gandhara/North-west Pakistan Museum no. IS.100-1972 (06/06/2011)
  • BODHISATTVA MAITREYA Schist Gandhara, Pakistan Kusana dynasty, 2nd-4th century A.D. The Bodhisattva Maitreya, the benevolent saviour of the Buddhist pantheon. He is attired in the princely dress of the day, with jewellery and other adornments. However, he also displays the signs of potential Buddhahood, including the raised hair-knot (usnisa) and the forehead mark (urna). IS.100-1972(c. 2000)
Object history
Purchased from Julian Sherrier for £7,000.
Production
Gandhara, Pakistan ( Indo-Hellenistic)
Subject depicted
Buddhism
Bibliographic reference
Irwin, John; Indian Art: Victoria & Albert Museum departmental guide, H.M.S.O. ISBN 0 905209117, 1978 fig. 2, p. 5
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
IS.100-1972

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 createdMay 16, 2002
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O65329/bodhisattva-maitreya-figure-unknown/
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest