Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 137, The Curtain Foundation Gallery

Votive Tablet

11th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The tablet is roughly rectangular in shape, the top of which is fashioned in the form of a pointed arch. Within a deeply-sunk cavity is a sculptural relief impressed from a metal-die. In the middle, of which Gautama the Buddha is seen seated upon a lotus-throne, that is supported by an elephant and two lions. His hands are held in bhumisparsha mudra (the earth touching gesture). Surrounding him are convential representations of seven episodes from his life: his birth in the Lumbini grove, enlightenment, the subjugation of the elephant Nalagiri, the conversion of Apalala (the Nagaor Serpent King), the first sermon at Sarnath, the Buddha Maitreya in front of whom is a kneeling devotee (possibly Yashodhara), and the horse Kanthaka.


Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Terra cotta
Brief description
Votive tablet with seated Buddha showing seven subjects from his life, terracotta, Pagan, Burma, 11th century
Physical description
The tablet is roughly rectangular in shape, the top of which is fashioned in the form of a pointed arch. Within a deeply-sunk cavity is a sculptural relief impressed from a metal-die. In the middle, of which Gautama the Buddha is seen seated upon a lotus-throne, that is supported by an elephant and two lions. His hands are held in bhumisparsha mudra (the earth touching gesture). Surrounding him are convential representations of seven episodes from his life: his birth in the Lumbini grove, enlightenment, the subjugation of the elephant Nalagiri, the conversion of Apalala (the Nagaor Serpent King), the first sermon at Sarnath, the Buddha Maitreya in front of whom is a kneeling devotee (possibly Yashodhara), and the horse Kanthaka.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 4in
  • Width: 3in
  • Height: 3.7in
  • Width: 3in
  • Depth: 1.4in
Credit line
Given by Mr. Donald Gunn
Object history
Gifted by Donald Gunn.
Production
Upper Burma-found probably in the precincts of the Kyaukku Ohnmin temple.
Subject depicted
Collection
Accession number
IM.186-1924

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Record createdAugust 28, 2003
Record URL
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