Figure

Item number Ee28 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Data
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Description

Hollow sheet bronze figure, filled with clay(?), base closed with sheet of same metal fastened with tabs and sealed clay. Male figure is seated cross-legged on double lotus base, hands in lap, palms up, right hand over left with thumbs touching; smiling with eyes open. Yellow-brown patina; face, feet hands and elaborate headdress are gilded. Headdress, earrings and draperies are from separate pieces of bronze stapled to figure. Back of headdress is painted red and blue; red and green paint in circles represent jewels. One drapery is detached; headdress is bent.

History Of Use

An object of worship in a temple, shrine, or monastery. It may have a prayer inserted in base. The figure represents one of many deities in the pantheon of lamaistic Buddhism, possibly Kamalosnisa (Buddha), Amitabha (bodhisattva), Candroprabha (bodhisattva), Bhodrappa (Bodhistattva), Vairocanabhisambodhi (Buddha), Locanaprabha (bodhisattva), Amitayus (Buddha), Niklakantha-isvara Avalokitesvara (bodhisattva), or Dvibhuja-dharmadhatwagesvara (Buddha).

Cultural Context

worship

Iconographic Meaning

Bodhisattva is an attendant of Buddha who has attained nirvana but has chosen instead to remain among the living and spread wisdom. The hand position indicates the dayana meditation mudra. The figure is seated in padmasana or full lotus position.

Item History

Made in Nepal
Collected between 1898 and 1935
Owned by Marion Stephan
Owned by Charles H. Stephan before January 4, 1978
Received from Charles H. Stephan (Donor) on January 4, 1978

What

Name: Figure
Identification Number: Ee28
Type of Item: figure
Material: clay, paint and bronze metal
Manufacturing Technique: cast, polished, joined, hammered, hollowed and painted
Overall: height 19.5 cm, width 11.7 cm, depth 8.5 cm