{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O24823"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O24823/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2016JK6917/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2016JK6917/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2016JK6917","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AK5769","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AP3016","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O24823/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O24823","accessionNumber":"IM.121-1910","objectType":"Figure","titles":[{"title":"Buddha Shakyamuni","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"The style of this Buddha Sakyamuni, and of a series of consecration drawings on paper found inside its base early in the 20th century (see Museum no. IM.121E-1910), shows that it was made by Nepalese craftsmen. The recovery in 2001 of  further drawings depicting the lineage of the 'Black Hat' (or Karmarpa) order points to its worship in Tibet and probable commissioning by a Tibetan patron. The image also has a face covered with 'cold' or painted gilding (as opposed to the fire gilding seen on the rest of the body). Such face painting is a peculiarly Tibetan consecration practice, and this reinforces the idea that it comes from Tibet. It was obtained during the British military expedition to the country in 1904.","physicalDescription":"Buddha Shakyamuni of copper with gilt and paint.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"copper","id":"x29394"},{"text":"paint","id":"AAT15029"},{"text":"gilt","id":"x29394"}],"techniques":[{"text":"embossed","id":"AAT53826"},{"text":"gilt","id":"AAT53789"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Copper with gilt and paint","categories":[{"text":"Buddhism","id":"THES48984"},{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2016JK6917","2006AK5769","2006AP3016"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"47A (VA)","id":"THES49797"},"free":"","case":"CA013","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Figure","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Nepal","id":"x30053"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"possibly"},{"place":{"text":"Tibet","id":"x29910"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"possibly"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"16th century","earliest":"1500-01-01","latest":"1599-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Purchased from the Baillie Gallery","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"41.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"34.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"of base","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Purchased from the Baillie Gallery. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project.\r\n\r\nRP 1910- 2707M","historicalContext":"Sakyamuni, the historical Buddha, retained great popularity in the Himalayas despite the rise of a system of transcendental Buddhas in the Vajrayana school.  The gilded figure is seated in a meditation posture on a lotus throne (padmasana), his right hand \" touching the earth\" (bhumisparsamudra) variously described as an allusion to the Buddha's resistance of the temptations of Mara and of calling the earth to witness his attainment of buddhahood.\nA series of Tibetan drawings, no later than the fourteenth century, were discovered inside this image, suggesting that it had been in worship in Tibet.  It was reportedly collected during the British expedition to Lhasa in 1904.","briefDescription":"Buddha Shakyamuni, copper with gilt and paint, Tibet or Nepal, 16th century, made by Nepalese craftsman","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Tibetan art / John Lowry. London: H. M. Stationery Office, 1973","id":"AUTH344050"},"details":"p. 15, pl. 2","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"Ayers, J. Oriental Art in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London 1983, ISBN 0-85667-120-7","id":"AUTH347571"},"details":"p. 85","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Buddhist","id":"AAT73738"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Buddha Shakyamuni\r\n1500–1600\r\nBuddha Shakyamuni is the historical Buddha. The style\r\nof this image, as well as drawings found inside the base,\r\nshows that it was made by Nepalese craftsmen. Other\r\ndrawings depicting the lineage of the Black Hat (or\r\nKarmarpa) order suggest that it was worshipped and\r\npossibly commissioned in Tibet. The painting of the face\r\nwith crushed gold is also a Tibetan practice.\r\nCopper with gilding and paint\r\nTibet or Nepal\r\nMade by Nepalese craftsman\r\nMuseum no. IM.121-1910","date":{"text":"14/06/2011","earliest":"2011-06-14","latest":"2011-06-14"}}],"partNumbers":["IM.121-1910"],"accessionNumberNum":"121","accessionNumberPrefix":"IM","accessionYear":1910,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-20","recordCreationDate":"2000-02-13","availableToBook":false}}