Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
South Asian Sculpture, Room 47b

Sculpture

Figure Group
7th century-8th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This enthroned figure of Jina can be identified as the eighth Tirthankara, Chandraprabha; his cognisant mark, the crescent moon clearly visible on the throne front. The Jina is honoured with an elaborate throne-back with tree foliage, topped by an umbrella, symbol of sacred authority.
The seated Jina is represented in a yogic padmasana posture, with crossed legs and hands resting in the lap. He is attended by two yaksa and yaksi figures, both holding a lotus stem and bud.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleSculpture (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Copper alloy bronze
Brief description
Eighth Tirthankara Chandraprabha, copper alloy, 7th-8th century, Akota style, Pratihara period, Gujarat.
Physical description
This enthroned figure of Jina can be identified as the eighth Tirthankara, Chandraprabha; his cognisant mark, the crescent moon clearly visible on the throne front. The Jina is honoured with an elaborate throne-back with tree foliage, topped by an umbrella, symbol of sacred authority.
The seated Jina is represented in a yogic padmasana posture, with crossed legs and hands resting in the lap. He is attended by two yaksa and yaksi figures, both holding a lotus stem and bud.
Dimensions
  • Height: 12cm
  • Depth: 11cm
  • Width: 7cm
Style
Gallery label
10. The Jina, or Jain Saviour, Chandraprabha 600–800 Gurjara-Pratihara period Copper alloy Western India (Gujarat) Purchased with the assistance of the V&A Jain Art Fund Museum no. IS.45-1999(06/06/2011)
Credit line
Purchased with the assistance of the V&A Jain Art Fund
Object history
Gift of Mrs Gerta Calmann. This bronze may be stylistically associated with a group of Jain bronzes called the Akota group, after a hoard found near Baroda in the 1940's. Many of the images in this group were inscribed, with dedicatory dates ranging from the seventh to the eleventh centuries.
Historical context
Purchased from Dr. & Mrs R. Gardiner, Elizabethan Lodge, Oldham Street, Oldham, Kent ME15 8RN
Provenance: formerly in the collection of the late Anthony Gardner, Director of Spink and Son Limited, London, who acquired it in the early 1970s. Passed to Dr. Robin Gardner by inheritance in 1981.
Production
Akota style, Pratihara period, Gujarat
Bibliographic reference
Barnard, Nick, Arts of Asia, Vol. no. 46, no 1, "The Jain Collections at the Victoria and Albert Museum". January-February 2016 p. 106, no. 22
Collection
Accession number
IS.45-1999

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Record createdJune 19, 2003
Record URL
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