COLLECTION NAME:
The AMICA Library
mediaCollectionId
AMICO~1~1
The AMICA Library
Collection
true
AMICA ID:
ASIA.1979.047
amicoid
ASIA.1979.047
AMICA ID
false
AMICA Library Year:
1998
aly
1998
AMICA Library Year
false
Object Type:
Sculpture
oty
Sculpture
Object Type
false
Creator Nationality:
Asian; Indian Sub-Continent; Nepalese
crc
Asian; Indian Sub-Continent; Nepalese
Creator Nationality
false
Creator Name-CRT:
Nepalese
crt
Nepalese
Creator Name-CRT
false
Title:
Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara
otn
Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara
Title
false
View:
Full view
rid
Full view
View
false
Creation Date:
Transitional period, late 10th-early 11th century
oct
Transitional period, late 10th-early 11th century
Creation Date
false
Creation Start Date:
900
ocs
900
Creation Start Date
false
Creation End Date:
1099
oce
1099
Creation End Date
false
Materials and Techniques:
Gilt copper with inlays of semiprecious stone
omd
Gilt copper with inlays of semiprecious stone
Materials and Techniques
false
Materials Terms:
copper
omm
copper
Materials Terms
false
Materials Terms:
semiprecious stone
omm
semiprecious stone
Materials Terms
false
Classification Term:
Bronzes
clt
Bronzes
Classification Term
false
Creation Place:
Nepal
ocp
Nepal
Creation Place
false
Dimensions:
H. 26 3/4 in. (67.9 cm)
met
H. 26 3/4 in. (67.9 cm)
Dimensions
false
Component Measured:
overall
mcm
overall
Component Measured
false
Measurement Dimension:
Height
med
Height
Measurement Dimension
false
Measurement Value:
67.9
mdv
67.9
Measurement Value
false
Measurement Unit:
cm
mdu
cm
Measurement Unit
false
Component Measured:
overall
mcm
overall
Component Measured
false
Measurement Dimension:
Height
med
Height
Measurement Dimension
false
Measurement Value:
26 3/4
mdv
26 3/4
Measurement Value
false
Measurement Unit:
in
mdu
in
Measurement Unit
false
AMICA Contributor:
Asia Society
oon
Asia Society
AMICA Contributor
false
Owner Location:
New York, New York, USA
oop
New York, New York, USA
Owner Location
false
ID Number:
1979.047
ooa
1979.047
ID Number
false
Credit Line:
Asia Society: The Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection
ooc
Asia Society: The Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection
Credit Line
false
Rights:
orl
<a href="http://www.asiasociety.org"target="_new">http://www.asiasociety.org</a>
Rights
false
Context:
Historically, Nepal consisted of a much smaller region than the modern nation, which was formed during the 18th century, encompasses today. It included only the section known as the Kathmandu Valley and a few outlying areas. Nepali art was created by artists of Newari descent within this limited geographic area, and for this reason exhibits a certain conservatism and consistency. Yet because of Nepal's critical location-linking north and east India with other nations of the Himalayas such as Tibet-there are also mutual influences between Nepali art and that of other styles found throughout the Himalayan region.
This late 10th- or early 11th-century sculpture of Avalokiteshvara demonstrates the more elaborate modeling and greater detail of Nepali sculpture from this time, along with the influence of Pala-period Indian conventions. The bodhisattva's transparent garment is indicated by delicate floral patterns and thin incised lines about the knees that represent the hemline. The sash, cord, and other adornments are thick and elaborate. Both of the figure's hands are held in the gesture of teaching (vitarkamudra), in which the thumb touches the index or middle finger, suggesting that this sculpture was originally part of a triad consisting of the Buddha Amitabha and the bodhisattvas Avalokiteshvara and Mahamasthamaprapta. This gesture is used by both Amitabha and Avalokiteshvara when they are shown guiding the souls of the faithful to rebirth in Amitabha's pure land, known as Sukhavati.
This is one of the earliest extant examples of the use of semiprecious stone inlays to decorate a sculpture. Originally all of the circular depressions in the jewelry would have been filled with multicolored stones; few remain today. The use of inlays spread from Nepal to Tibet, and such decorate inlays are among the most distinctive features of Himalayan sculpture.
cxd
Historically, Nepal consisted of a much smaller region than the modern nation, which was formed during the 18th century, encompasses today. It included only the section known as the Kathmandu Valley and a few outlying areas. Nepali art was created by artists of Newari descent within this limited geographic area, and for this reason exhibits a certain conservatism and consistency. Yet because of Nepal's critical location-linking north and east India with other nations of the Himalayas such as Tibet-there are also mutual influences between Nepali art and that of other styles found throughout the Himalayan region.<P>This late 10th- or early 11th-century sculpture of Avalokiteshvara demonstrates the more elaborate modeling and greater detail of Nepali sculpture from this time, along with the influence of Pala-period Indian conventions. The bodhisattva's transparent garment is indicated by delicate floral patterns and thin incised lines about the knees that represent the hemline. The sash, cord, and other adornments are thick and elaborate. Both of the figure's hands are held in the gesture of teaching (<I>vitarkamudra</I>), in which the thumb touches the index or middle finger, suggesting that this sculpture was originally part of a triad consisting of the Buddha Amitabha and the bodhisattvas Avalokiteshvara and Mahamasthamaprapta. This gesture is used by both Amitabha and Avalokiteshvara when they are shown guiding the souls of the faithful to rebirth in Amitabha's pure land, known as Sukhavati.</P><P>This is one of the earliest extant examples of the use of semiprecious stone inlays to decorate a sculpture. Originally all of the circular depressions in the jewelry would have been filled with multicolored stones; few remain today. The use of inlays spread from Nepal to Tibet, and such decorate inlays are among the most distinctive features of Himalayan sculpture.</P>
Context
false
Related Document Description:
Asia Society. Handbook of the Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection. New York: Asia Society, [1981], p. 24.
rdd
Asia Society. <I>Handbook of the Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection.</I> New York: Asia Society, [1981], p. 24.
Related Document Description
false
Related Document Description:
Treasures of Asian Art: Selections from the Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection, The Asia Society, New York. Hong Kong and Singapore: Hong Kong Museum of Art and National Museum Singapore, 1993, pp. 66, 67.
rdd
<I>Treasures of Asian Art: Selections from the Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection, The Asia Society, New York</I>. Hong Kong and Singapore: Hong Kong Museum of Art and National Museum Singapore, 1993, pp. 66, 67.
Related Document Description
false
Related Document Description:
Huntington, John C. 'Three Essays on Himalayan Metal Images.' Apollo (November 1983), pp. 420-22.
rdd
Huntington, John C. 'Three Essays on Himalayan Metal Images.' <I>Apollo</I> (November 1983), pp. 420-22.
Related Document Description
false
Related Document Description:
Huntington, Susan L., and John C. Huntington. Leaves from the Bodhi Tree: The Art of Pala India (8th-12th Centuries) and Its International Legacy. Dayton and Seattle: Dayton Art Institute and University of Washington Press, 1990, p. 274.
rdd
Huntington, Susan L., and John C. Huntington. <I>Leaves from the Bodhi Tree: The Art of Pala India (8th-12th Centuries) and Its International Legacy.</I> Dayton and Seattle: Dayton Art Institute and University of Washington Press, 1990, p. 274.
Related Document Description
false
Related Document Description:
Lee, Sherman E. Asian Art: Selections from the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd. New York: Asia Society, 1970, pp. 18, 19, 31.
rdd
Lee, Sherman E. <I>Asian Art: Selections from the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd.</I> New York: Asia Society, 1970, pp. 18, 19, 31.
Related Document Description
false
Related Document Description:
Pal, Pratapaditya. 'Rockefeller Bronzes: The Indian Tradition.' ARTnews 69 (September 1970), pp. 48-49, 76-77.
rdd
Pal, Pratapaditya. 'Rockefeller Bronzes: The Indian Tradition.' <I>ARTnews</I> 69 (September 1970), pp. 48-49, 76-77.
Related Document Description
false
Related Document Description:
Treasures of Asian Art: Selections from the Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection, The Asia Society, New York. Tokyo: Idemitsu Museum of Arts, 1992, pp. 50, 123-24.
rdd
<I>Treasures of Asian Art: Selections from the Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection, The Asia Society, New York.</I> Tokyo: Idemitsu Museum of Arts, 1992, pp. 50, 123-24.
Related Document Description
false
Related Document Description:
Young, Mahonri Sharp. 'Treasures of the Orient: A Rockefeller Collection.' Apollo (November 1970), pp. 329-39.
rdd
Young, Mahonri Sharp. 'Treasures of the Orient: A Rockefeller Collection.' <I>Apollo</I> (November 1970), pp. 329-39.
Related Document Description
false
Related Image Identifier Link:
ASIA.1979.047.a.tif
ril
ASIA.1979.047.a.tif
Related Image Identifier Link
false