COLLECTION NAME:
The AMICA Library
mediaCollectionId
AMICO~1~1
The AMICA Library
Collection
true
AMICA ID:
ASIA.1992.003
amicoid
ASIA.1992.003
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:
Licchavi period, 8th-9th century
oct
Licchavi period, 8th-9th century
Creation Date
false
Creation Start Date:
700
ocs
700
Creation Start Date
false
Creation End Date:
899
oce
899
Creation End Date
false
Materials and Techniques:
Gilt copper alloy
omd
Gilt copper alloy
Materials and Techniques
false
Creation Place:
Nepal
ocp
Nepal
Creation Place
false
Dimensions:
H. 13 1/4 in. (33.7 cm)
met
H. 13 1/4 in. (33.7 cm)
Dimensions
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:
1992.003
ooa
1992.003
ID Number
false
Credit Line:
Asia Society: Estate of Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller
ooc
Asia Society: Estate of Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller
Credit Line
false
Rights:
orl
<a href="http://www.asiasociety.org"target="_new">http://www.asiasociety.org</a>
Rights
false
Context:
Nepali art was created by artists of Newari descent, 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. The simple yet naturalistic treatment of the garments and jewelry in this representation of Avalokiteshvara is characteristic of early Nepali sculpture. Identified by a small seated image of the Buddha Amitabha in his crown, Avalokiteshvara is standing with his left hand in the gesture of charity (varadamudra). He wears a long skirtlike garment, a sash tied around his hips, earrings, a necklace, and bracelets. The long cord that runs from his left shoulder and across his right thigh represents a sacred thread and symbolizes Avalokiteshvara's high social and religious status. The smooth torso, broad shoulders, long legs, and relaxed posture reflect the impact of the Gupta style--which prevailed in north India from the 4th through 6th centuries--on the art of Nepal. Nepali traditions, however, are seen in Avalokiteshvara's broad face, full cheekbones, and elegant features. Different from the facial features of Indian bodhisattvas, which are small and full, those of this bodhisattva are larger and thinner: the elegant curves of the eyebrows and eyes and the long thin line of the nose are distinctively Nepali.
cxd
Nepali art was created by artists of Newari descent, 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. The simple yet naturalistic treatment of the garments and jewelry in this representation of Avalokiteshvara is characteristic of early Nepali sculpture. Identified by a small seated image of the Buddha Amitabha in his crown, Avalokiteshvara is standing with his left hand in the gesture of charity (<I>varadamudra</I>). He wears a long skirtlike garment, a sash tied around his hips, earrings, a necklace, and bracelets. The long cord that runs from his left shoulder and across his right thigh represents a sacred thread and symbolizes Avalokiteshvara's high social and religious status. The smooth torso, broad shoulders, long legs, and relaxed posture reflect the impact of the Gupta style--which prevailed in north India from the 4th through 6th centuries--on the art of Nepal. Nepali traditions, however, are seen in Avalokiteshvara's broad face, full cheekbones, and elegant features. Different from the facial features of Indian bodhisattvas, which are small and full, those of this bodhisattva are larger and thinner: the elegant curves of the eyebrows and eyes and the long thin line of the nose are distinctively Nepali.
Context
false
Related Document Description:
Asia Society. Handbook of the Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection. New York: Asia Society, [1981], p. 111.
rdd
Asia Society. <I>Handbook of the Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection</I>. New York: Asia Society, [1981], p. 111.
Related Document Description
false
Related Document Description:
Huntington, John C. 'Three Essays on Himalayan Metal Images.' Apollo (November 1983), p. 420.
rdd
Huntington, John C. 'Three Essays on Himalayan Metal Images.' <I>Apollo</I> (November 1983), p. 420.
Related Document Description
false
Related Image Identifier Link:
ASIA.1992.003.a.tif
ril
ASIA.1992.003.a.tif
Related Image Identifier Link
false