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Photo: Elizabeth Mann
Partial votive structure with the Buddhist Cosmos
Photo: Elizabeth Mann

Partial votive structure with the Buddhist Cosmos

Dateca. second half of the 9th century
Label TextThis delicate architectural model acted as a three-dimensional diagram of the Buddhist cosmos. On the four sides sit large opposed bodhisattvas, each flanked by a male and female attendant. Above their heads rest twelve Buddhas in differing postures. The repetition and hierarchy of images reflect a moment when the evolving form of eastern Indian Buddhism was developing greater complexity in its rituals. This eventually transformed into the strictly ordered systems familiar in the Himalayan region today. Exactly what fit into the hole to crown this rare piece remains a mystery.
Object number48.166
Photo CreditPhoto: Elizabeth Mann
Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Discovering Buddhist Art - Seeking the Sublime", July 9, 2003 - June 3, 2005 Los Angeles, California, Los Angeles County Museum, "Arts of Greater India", 1950 (1950) Rochester, New York, Memorial Art Gallery of University of Rochester, "Art India", 1961 (1961) Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, Washington, "Indian Buddhist Sculpture", February 3 - August 20, 1990, (02/03/1990 - 08/20/1990) Seattle, Washington, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Boundless: Stories of Asian Art, Feb. 8, 2020 - ongoing. Published References"Art of Greater India," Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum, 1950, no. 74, p. 45 "Art of India," Rochester, N.Y.: University of Rochester, Memorial Art Gallery, 1961, fig. 29 "Encyclopedia of World Art," Vol. XI, 1966, pl. 9 Dohanian, Diran K. "The Wata-dā-gē, in Ceylon: The Circular-Relic-House of Polannaruva and Its Antecedents," in Archives of Asian Art, Vol. 23 (1969/1970), pp. 31-40, illus. p. 39 Dwivedi, V.P., "Ivoires Indiens," or "A Pair of Ivory Figures from Orissa," in Arts Asiatiques, 16:62, 1967 Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, Office of the Registrar General's 1961 Census of Handicraft and Social Studies. "Handbook, Seattle Art Museum: Selected Works from the Permanent Collections." Seattle, WA: Seattle Art Museum, 1951, p. 28 (b&w) Joice, Gail, Michael Knight, and Pamela McClusky. "Ivories in the Collection of the Seattle Art Museum." Seattle, WA: Seattle Art Museum, 1987, no. 7, p. 11 Lee, Sherman E. "Journal of the India Society," in Oriental Art, Vol. XVII, 1949 Lee, Sherman E. Review of LACM "Art of Greater India catalgoue, in Artibus Asiae, 1950 Lee, Sherman E. Review of "The Art of Greater India, 3000 B.C.-1800 A.D." by Henry Trubner, in Artibus Asiae, Vol. 13 No. 1/2 (1950), p. 119-121. Marcus, Margaret F. "Sculptures from Bihar and Bengal," in The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art, Vol. 54, No. 8 (Oct., 1967), pp. 240-262; p. 260, figs. 20, 20a "Selected Works." Seattle, WA: Seattle Art Museum, 1991, p. 145
Dimensions4 1/2 in. (11.43 cm)
MediumIvory
Carved Ivory (Netsuke), Fox disguised as a Buddhist nun.
Japanese
19th century
Object number: 98.47.69
Photo: Elizabeth Mann
Thai
19th century
Object number: 56.80
Casket, carved
Indian
early 17th century
Object number: 58.26
Plaque:  Figure, flower medallions
Indian
16th century
Object number: 58.50
Krishna as the flute-playing cowherd (Venugopala)
Indian
ca. 1700 - 1900
Object number: 68.91
Indian
18th century
Object number: 46.268
Indian
18th century
Object number: 46.269
Photo: Elizabeth Mann
Indian
17th century
Object number: 47.19
Photo: Mark Woods
2011-2013
Object number: 2014.12.5
Image courtesy of Sikkema Jenkins & Co
2006-09
Object number: 2018.15
Carved arm rest
Chinese
Object number: 35.278.1