{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O24838"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O24838/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AU8866/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AU8866/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AU8866","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O24838/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O24838","accessionNumber":"IM.4-1919","objectType":"Sculpture","titles":[{"title":"Head of a Bodhisattva","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"The fine carving of this head indicates that it belonged to a standing bodhisattva image of very high quality. (Bodhisattva  is the name given to one on the path to becoming a buddha.) It has an elaborate headdress, constructed of ribbons and jewels. The central cockade (now missing) originally slotted onto the raised tapering tenon on a disc prominently displayed at the centre of the turban and bejewelled diadem. This probably displayed the attribute identifying the specific bodhisattva this head belonged to. \r\n\r\nThe beautifully carved head has an auspicious forehead mark (‘urna’) and the wavy moustache much favoured in the Gandharan school of Kushan Buddhist art. The Museum records indicate that this sculpture was ‘found near Peshawar’, in the Gandharan region. The head in not worked fully in the round. This suggests that it was intended to be displayed against a temple structure or in a wall niche.\r\n\r\nIn Gandharan art, images of the Buddha are often flanked by two attendant bodhisattvas, Maitreya and Avalokitesvara. Bodhisattvas also began to be worshipped as independent deities in this period. They were clearly distinguished from the Buddha by their princely attire. \r\n\r\nScientific analysis has revealed evidence of polychrome over a stucco ground with traces of gilding in the headdress. This confirms the widespread use of polychrome on stone as well as stucco sculptures.","physicalDescription":"","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"schist","id":"AAT11626"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Schist with traces of pigment and gold","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Buddhism","id":"THES48984"}],"styles":[{"text":"Gandharan","id":"AAT18889"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2006AU8866"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"47A (VA)","id":"THES49797"},"free":"","case":"CA008","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Head","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Peshawar","id":"x35471"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"near"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"late 2nd century-3rd century","earliest":"0150-01-01","latest":"0300-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by F. St. G. Manners Smith, Esq. C.I.E., East India United Services Club, 16 St. James' Square, S.W.1","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"23","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"15","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Reportedly found near Peshawar.\r\n\r\nGiven by F. St. G. Manners Smith, Esq. C.I.E., East India United Services Club, 16 St. James' Square, S.W.1. 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\nR.P. 1919/872","historicalContext":"Images of the Buddha are often, in Gandharan art, flanked by two attendant bodhisattvas, Maitreya and Avalokitesvara. Bodhisattvas also appear to begin to be worshipped as independent deities. They are distinguished from the Buddha by their princely attire. This head has an elaborate headdress, constructed of ribbons and jewels. The central cockade, now missing, probably displayed the attribute identifying which of the two bodhisattvas this head belonged to. Technical analysis has revealed evidence of polychrome over a stucco ground with traces of gilding above. It appears that many of the stone sculptures of Gandhara were originally richly painted.","briefDescription":"Head of a Bodhisattva, schist, reportedly Peshawar, Gandhara, Pakistan, Late 2nd-3rd century","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"PUBLISHED  A Foucher, L'art Greco-bouddhique, vol 2, fig 426\r\n"},{"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.132, Cat.88","free":""}],"production":"Reportedly Peshawar, Gandhara, Pakistan","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Buddhism","id":"AAT73738"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"4. Head of a Bodhisattva\r\n150–300\r\nKushan period\r\nBodhisattvas are future Buddhas who remain in the world to help others. They are distinguished from the Buddha by their princely attire. In Gandharan art, images of the Buddha are often flanked by two attendant bodhisattvas, Maitreya and Avalokiteshvara. It is no longer possible to identify this bodhisattva as the part of his headdress that would have borne his attribute is now missing.\r\nSchist with traces of pigment over a stucco ground with gilding\r\nGandhara/North-west Pakistan\r\nReportedly found near Peshawar\r\nGiven by F. St. G. Manners Smith\r\nMuseum no. IM.4-1919","date":{"text":"06/06/2011","earliest":"2011-06-06","latest":"2011-06-06"}}],"partNumbers":["IM.4-1919"],"accessionNumberNum":"4","accessionNumberPrefix":"IM","accessionYear":1919,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LW8020"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-20","recordCreationDate":"2000-02-13","availableToBook":false}}