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Gain access to this incredible resource through either a monthly or a yearly subscription and search the entire collection from your desktop, compare multiple images side by side and zoom into the minute details of the images. Visit www.davidrumsey.com/amica for more information on the collection, click on the link below the revolving thumbnail to the right, or email us at amica@luna-img.com . Creator Nationality: Asian; Far East Asian; Mongolian Creator Name-CRT: Tibetan or Mongolian Title: White Tara View: Full View Creation Start Date: 1600 Creation End Date: 1699 Creation Date: 17th century Creation Place: Tibet or Mongolia Object Type: Sculpture Materials and Techniques: Silver with gold and inlays of semiprecious stone Dimensions: H. 6 3/4 in. (17.1 cm) AMICA Contributor: Asia Society Owner Location: New York, New York, USA ID Number: 1979.052 Credit Line: Asia Society: The Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection Rights: http://www.asiasociety.org Context: Tibetan sculpture is characterized by a conservative and complicated iconography, and the acceptance and adaptation of figures, facial types, and clothing associated with many other cultures and various eras. The interest in ornamentation often seen in later Tibetan sculptures is illustrated by the blue hair, elaborate jewelry, and two types of metal in this sculpture of the goddess Tara, which can be dated to the 17th century. Her pose and hand gestures identify this image as White Tara, an embodiment of infinite compassion. The eyes in the center of her forehead and the palm of each hand symbolize Tara's vigilance on behalf of all sentient beings. Made of silver, this sculpture is decorated with gold and inlaid semiprecious stone. Tara's silver skirt and gold scarf are precisely carved with rich floral motifs. Her crown, jewelry, and the astonishing girdle that covers her skirt were cast in gold and lavishly inlaid with semiprecious stone, including turquoise. The silver used to make this statue may have come from China, which at the time had strong cultural, religious, and economic ties with Tibet. It has been suggested that this sculpture might be a smaller version of the large silver images of White Tara used to decorate the halls of the Potala Place in Lhasa. The construction of this temple and of its many large-scale sculptures was one of the most important events in the 17th century, and its impact on the development of Tibetan art remains a topic for future study. However, the type of jewelry the goddess wears and the use of turquoise inlay are commonly found in sculptures from Mongolia, and it is possible that this sculpture was made there. Related Document Description: Asia Society. Handbook of the Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection. New York: Asia Society, [1981], p. 26. Related Document Description: Huntington, John C. 'Three Essays on Himalayan Metal Images.' Apollo (November 1983), pp. 424-25. Related Document Description: Rhie, Marylin M., and Robert A. F. Thurman. From the Land of the Snows: Buddhist Art of Tibet. Amherst, Mass.: Mead Art Museum, Amherst College, 1984, p. 10. AMICA ID: ASIA.1979.052 AMICA Library Year: 1998 Media Metadata Rights: Copyright, Asia Society AMICA PUBLIC RIGHTS: a) Access to the materials is granted for personal and non-commercial use. b) A full educational license for non-commercial use is available from Cartography Associates at www.davidrumsey.com/amica/institution_subscribe.html c) Licensed users may continue their examination of additional materials provided by Cartography Associates, and d) commercial rights are available from the rights holder. Home
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