{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O24876"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O24876/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BC5289/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BC5289/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006BC5289","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AW2081","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AW2080","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O24876/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O24876","accessionNumber":"IM.107-1929","objectType":"Figure","titles":[{"title":"Karamukha Samvara","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"The tutelary protector Kharamukha Samvara, an unusual ass-headed form of Samvara associated with the highest level of tantric teachings, the Anuttara Yoga tantras. Such protectors (or <i>Yidam</i>) are chosen by Buddhist practitioners as embodiments of the enlightened state which is their goal. Each object held in the hands of the figure and of his consort (of which several are now missing) symbolically represents aspects and powers of enlightened wisdom. The lasso in his fifth left hand, for example, shows his ability to bind beings to wisdom from life to life.","physicalDescription":"Figure of Karamukha Samvara of cast brass, gilded and tinted in colours.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"brass","id":"AAT10946"}],"techniques":[{"text":"cast","id":"x32615"},{"text":"gilded","id":"AAT53789"},{"text":"painted","id":"x30138"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Cast brass, gilded and tinted","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2006BC5289","2006AW2081","2006AW2080"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"17","id":"THES49859"},"free":"","case":"CA2","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Sculpture of Kharamukha Samvara","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Chamdo","id":"x36374"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"18th century","earliest":"1700-01-01","latest":"1799-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Bequeathed by J.L. Smith, Esq.","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"25","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"A tantric deity Samvara in an ass-headed form (Tib. Bde mchog bun zhal can), in sexual union (yab-yum) with his sakti (personification of his energy). Both figures are naked and bejewelled, and Samvara has necklaces of severed heads and skulls.  He is twelve armed and is seen trampling on two prostate figures, probably Kalaratri (the personification of the \"black night\") and Bhairava.","briefDescription":"Figure of Karamukha Samvara, brass, gilded and tinted, Chamdo, Eastern Tibet, 18th century.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Buddhist","id":"AAT73738"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Kharamukha Samvara\r\n1700–1800\r\nFor Buddhist tantric practitioners, the ass-headed protective\r\ndeity Kharamukha Samvara is an embodiment of the\r\nenlightened state. The sexual imagery is a metaphor for\r\nenlightenment, with the male representing compassion\r\nand the female wisdom. Samvara’s donkey head introduces\r\na further layer of meaning, since the Sanskrit word khara\r\nmeans both donkey and emptiness, another fundamental\r\nquality of the enlightened state.\r\nBrass, gilded and tinted\r\nEastern Tibet (Chamdo)\r\nMuseum no. IM.107-1929","date":{"text":"14/06/2011","earliest":"2011-06-14","latest":"2011-06-14"}}],"partNumbers":["IM.107-1929"],"accessionNumberNum":"107","accessionNumberPrefix":"IM","accessionYear":1929,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-08-15","recordCreationDate":"2000-02-13","availableToBook":false}}