Ritual, clay, Wat Harm, Thailand, 11th century

Votive tablet in unbaked (sun-dried) clay, medallion form, impressed from a seal or die. O-shaped but with pointed top, with oval seal impressions: a four-armed figure identified as Pra Isuen (the Hindu god Shiva), but perhaps representing the Buddhist bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, seated in Buddha-like fashion with one right hand in the 'witness' or 'earth-touching' attitude, on a lotus-throne; and with six lines of Sanskrit inscription, or formula, on a very small scale, arranged as an aureole. A minute representation of Buddha appears in the figure's head-dress.
The Sanskrit prayers appear in nagari script, supporting the notion that these impressions were made from moulds, almost certainly bronze, imported from eastern India.

Given by J.W. Hinchley, Esq.

Buddhist sites in peninsular Thailand, particularly cave sanctuaries, have been a rich source of impressed clay votive tablets. This tablet together with IM.5-1914 may reflect the early practice of Mahayanist Buddhism in the region: clay impressions were probably deposited at holy sites by worshippers and pilgrims as votive offerings.
This tablet and IM.5-1914 were found in a limestone cave at Wat Harm, near the Trang River north of Kovantani in Thailand, north of the Malay peninsula. Tablets in great numbers were found in the caves at Wat Harm, place face to face and laid in rows, under a deep deposit of bat droppings.

Given by J.W. Hinchley, Esq., 55, Redcliffe Road, S.W.0. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project.

RP 1914-1042M

Found in a cave at Wat Harm, near the Trang River north of Kovantami. It has been suggested that the mould from which the tablet was impressed may have been Indian.

IM.6-1914