{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O19071"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O19071/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MW3485/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MW3485/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021MW3485","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JK8448","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AL5038","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O19071/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O19071","accessionNumber":"IS.137-1999","objectType":"Figure","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"A crowned Buddha seated with crossed legs and both hands resting on his lap in the meditation posture (<i>dhyāna mudrā</i>), on the coils of a serpent (<i>nāga</i>). He is richly adorned with armlets, anklets, bracelets, necklace, and earrings. The broad, trapezoidal face shape, clearly marked brow line, and crown are stylistically characteristic of Khmer sculpture in the 13th century. Iconographically, this image refers to a moment in the life of the Buddha when the serpent deity Muchalinda sheltered him during a period of meditation interrupted by a great storm. This iconography became popular during the reign of the Khmer king Jayavarman VII (r.ca.  1181–1218), who may have identified himself with the Buddha in this form. The many-headed hood of Mucahlinda appears to have been cast in copper alloy (likely bronze) along with the figure, but as a separate piece attached by a tenon, which is now missing.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"copper alloy","id":"AAT10942"}],"techniques":[{"text":"lost wax","id":"AAT53113"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Copper alloy, lost-wax cast","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2021MW3485","2016JK8448","2006AL5038"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES394900"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Figure","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Cambodia","id":"x30020"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"13th century","earliest":"1200-01-01","latest":"1300-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"13","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Purchased from Monica Gunter, beneficiary of the estate of her father Alex Biancardi.\r\n\nAlexander Biancardi (1924–1999) was a collector and dealer who had a particualr in interest in ancient and medieval religious sculpture from South and South-East Asia. The V&A holds a substantial group of objects associated with him which were acquired through purchases, gifts, and bequests from Biancardi and his family between the late 1980s and late 1990s. Several of these objects are currently on display.\r\n\r\nBorn in Alexandria, Egypt, Biancardi moved to Australia in 1947, where he entered the textile trade. In the early 1960s, he relocated to France and worked for a Dutch textile company with business interests in Asia. His exposure to the region led him to begin collecting Asian art in the 1950s, a pursuit he continued into the 1990s. He returned to Australia later in life.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Crowned Buddha seated on a coiled snake, copper alloy, Cambodia, 13th century","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"For a discussion of this iconography see:\n\nPeter Sharrock. 'Serpent-Enthroned Buddha of Angkor.' <i>Marg</i>, vol. 67, no. 2 (2015): 20.\n"}],"production":"Khmer","productionType":{"text":"Unique","id":"THES48864"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Buddha","id":"N756"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Buddhist","id":"AAT73738"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["IS.137-1999"],"accessionNumberNum":"137","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":1999,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-07-11","recordCreationDate":"2000-01-13","availableToBook":true}}