{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O24788"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O24788/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AU5639/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AU5639/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AU5639","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019MA8511","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019MA8510","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O24788/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O24788","accessionNumber":"IPN.2639","objectType":"Sculpture","titles":[{"title":"Standing Buddha","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This sculpture is one of the finest Buddhist bronzes to survive from south India. The Buddha stands on a circular double-lotus pedestal, with holes for securing the image during processional use.\r\n\r\nHe gazes outward at the viewer, with his right hand gesturing protection (‘abhaya-mudra’). His monastic robe (‘sanghati’) covers both shoulders. It clings tightly to his body and forms stylised folds at the hem, in a manner characteristic of the eastern Indian Pala style. \r\n\r\nThe figure displays a number of the auspicious marks (‘laksanas’) denoting Buddha-hood. These include the skull protruberance (‘usnisa’) which has a flame projection - a southern-style motif. The forehead mark (‘urna’) is of the southern ‘hair-curl’ type, resembling an inverted question mark, and the hands have conventional palm markings.\r\n \r\nThis figure is in the style closely associated with the port city of Nagapattinam, coastal Tamilnadu. The Buddhist monastic complex there was the largest in medieval south India. It received generous patronage, as witnessed by over 350 bronze images that have been excavated or found by chance in the vicinity of the vihara and surrounding region.","physicalDescription":"A standing figure with the right hand in abhaya mudra, a gesture of reassurance, and the left holding the hem of the garment. The robe or sanghati covers both shoulders and clings tightly to the flesh, hanging cloak-like at the sides in stylised  folds characteristic of the North Indian (Pala) school. The usnisa is composed of a northern-style proturberance superimposed by the southern-style flame. The urna is a southern type, resembling an inverted question mark. The hands have conventional palm-marks on a circular lotus-pedestal with holes for securing the image while being carried in procession.\r\nThis sculpture is one of the finest Buddhist bronzes to survive from South India. Buddhism came early to Southern India, as recorded by the 3rd century BC inscriptions of the Emperor Asoka. The region continued to be a centre of Buddhist learning as late as the 12th century, despite the growing dominance of Hinduism. Cities such as Nagapattinam attracted royal endowments not only from the local Chola dynasty but also from overseas kingdoms, such as the Sailendra rulers of Java. Buddhist scholars were widely attracted and generous patronage provided for the creation of numerous Buddha images.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Copper alloy","id":"AAT10942"},{"text":"Gilt","id":"x30367"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Gilt copper alloy","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Buddhism","id":"THES48984"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2006AU5639","2019MA8511","2019MA8510"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"47F","id":"THES49793"},"free":"","case":"CA9","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Figure","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Thanjavur","id":"x32011"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"11th century-12th century","earliest":"1000-01-01","latest":"1200-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"68.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"10","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"maximum","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"49","unit":"kg","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"14/01/2015","earliest":"2015-01-14","latest":"2015-01-14"},"part":"with board","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"In the style of Nagapattinam, Tanjavur District, Tamilnadu, south India\r\nOne of three objects loaned from Mr Stodart in 1917","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Standing Buddha, gilt copper alloy, Nagapattinam, south India, 11th-12th century","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Haworth-Booth, Mark; Indian Sculpture: A Travelling Exhibition, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 1971","id":"AUTH348838"},"details":"No. 8","free":"Ramachandran, T N: The Nagapattinam and the Buddhist Bronzes in the Madras Museum, Madras, 1954"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Guy, John. 'Buddhist Bronzes of Southern India : Rediscovering a Lost History' in Arts of Asia, volume 30 number 6, Nov-Dec 2000, pp.103-110."},{"reference":{"text":"L'escultura en el temples indis : l'art de la devoció : exposició organitzada per la Fundació \"La Caixa\" i el Victoria & Albert Museum, Londres. [Barcelona: Obra social, Fundació \"la Caixa\", c2007 Number: 9788476649466","id":"AUTH339669"},"details":"p. 80","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"Indian temple sculpture / John Guy. London: V&A Publications, 2007 Number: 9781851775095 (hbk.), 1851775099 (hbk.)","id":"AUTH339668"},"details":"pl. 58, p. 57","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Clarke, John: Arts of Asia, vol. 45, no. 5, September - October 2015, \"The Buddha image in Asia: Phase One of the Robert  H. N.Ho Family Foundation Galleries of Buddhist Art\", p.118, pl. 9."},{"reference":{"text":"Haworth-Booth,Mark; Indian Sculpture: A Travelling Exhibition, Victgoria & Albert Museum, London, 1971","id":"AUTH348838"},"details":"No. 8","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Dehejia, Vidya. <i>The Thief Who Stole My Heart: The Material Life of Sacred Bronzes  from Chola India, 855-1280</i>. Princeton University Press, Princeton and Oxford,  2021, pp.243-4."}],"production":"Nagapattinam, Tanjavur district, Tamilnadu, south India","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Buddhism","id":"AAT73738"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Buddha Offering Protection\r\n1000–1200\r\nChola dynasty\r\nNagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, South India\r\nGilded copper alloy\r\nThis is one of the finest Buddhist bronzes to survive\r\nfrom southern India. The style suggests it comes from\r\nthe coastal port of Nagapattinam, home at this time\r\nto the largest monastic complex in the region. Features\r\nfrom northern India, such as the monastic robe covering\r\nboth shoulders and closely moulded to the body, are\r\ncombined with southern elements, including the\r\nflame ornament on the head bump.\r\nMuseum no. IPN.2639\r\n1000–1200","date":{"text":"1/4/2009","earliest":"2009-04-01","latest":"2009-04-01"}},{"text":"Buddha Offering Protection\r\n1000–1100\r\nChola dynasty\r\nThis Buddhist bronze is one of the finest to survive from\r\nsouthern India. It was probably made in the coastal port\r\nof Nagapattinam, at that time home to the largest group\r\nof Buddhist monasteries in southern India. The figure\r\ncombines features typical of the region, including the\r\nflame ornament on the head, with elements from northeastern\r\nIndia, such as the close-fitting monastic robe\r\ncovering both shoulders. This shows that monks travelled\r\nlong distances between different regions at that time.\r\nNagapattinam, Tamilnadu, South India\r\nGilded copper alloy\r\nMuseum no. IPN.2639\r\n1000–1100","date":{"text":"03/08/2015","earliest":"2015-08-03","latest":"2015-08-03"}}],"partNumbers":["IPN.2639"],"accessionNumberNum":"2639","accessionNumberPrefix":"IPN","accessionYear":null,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LP9598","2019LT4796","2019LT9306","2020MP2045"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-11-11","recordCreationDate":"2000-02-13","availableToBook":false}}