{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O24861"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O24861/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MU1487/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MU1487/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2020MU1487","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O24861/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O24861","accessionNumber":"IM.370-1914","objectType":"Figure","titles":[{"title":"The Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"Avalokiteshvara, carved and painted, and set with semi precious stones.  With broken arms it is not possible to identify the form.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"agalmatolite","id":"AAT11470"},{"text":"gilt","id":"x30367"},{"text":"paint","id":"AAT15029"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carved","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Agalmatolite with traces of gilt and paint, set with semi-precious stones.","categories":[{"text":"Buddhism","id":"THES48984"},{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Gemstones","id":"THES270329"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2020MU1487"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES365231"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Figure","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 17th century","earliest":"1595-01-01","latest":"1704-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Purchased from Imre Schwaiger, Esq.","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"14.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Purchased from the dealer Imre Schwaiger, Esq., 39, Brook Street, Grosvenor Square, W. 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. 1914-2839M and R.P. 1913-2907M","historicalContext":"Avalokitesvara the Lord of compassion, is the most widely worshipped of the bodhisattvas in the Mahayanist pantheon of Buddhist Tibet.  He can assume a variety of forms, with up to eleven heads, as seen in this form (the upper two are missing).  Small stone sculptures are uncommon in Tibet and it is particularly rare to find a representation of  Avalokitesvara.  This variety of stone is unknown in Tibet but is widely used in China.  The unusual treatment of the lotus stand, which has parallels in 17th century Chinese sculptures, raises the possibility that this image was made in China.","briefDescription":"Avalokiteshvara, Agalmatolite with traces of gilt and paint, set with semi-precious stones, Tibet or China, ca.17th century","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Tibetan art / John Lowry. London: H. M. Stationery Office, 1973","id":"AUTH344050"},"details":"p. 45, pl. 17","free":""}],"production":"Tibet or China","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Buddhist","id":"AAT73738"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["IM.370-1914"],"accessionNumberNum":"370","accessionNumberPrefix":"IM","accessionYear":1914,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-10-05","recordCreationDate":"2000-02-13","availableToBook":true}}