{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O24954"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O24954/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2011EV3941/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2011EV3941/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2011EV3941","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EV3947","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O24954/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O24954","accessionNumber":"IS.22-1988","objectType":"Sculpture","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"This small, damaged sculpture is identified as the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara by the image of the Buddha Amitābha seated in meditation on his headdress. The simply modelled hair, close-fitting drapery incised rather than modelled, and softly rounded facial features are characteristic of pre-Angkorian sculpture from Cambodia, particularly the style associated with the cave site of Phnom Da at Angkor Borei in the south of the country. Although damaged, the two missing arms likely once held a lotus and formed the gesture of giving (varada mudrā), respectively. Sculptures from Phnom Da represent the earliest identifiable school of Cambodian art, predating works produced at the Chenla-period site of Vat Phu. The garments here are indicated by coarse incised lines and a plain shoulder cloth, rather than the antelope skin seen in later representations. This sculpture is evidence that the worship of the Mahāyāna saviour figures, the bodhisattvas, was popular in Cambodia by the 7th century.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"stone","id":"THES410843"}],"techniques":[{"text":"sculpture","id":"AAT53618"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Stone","categories":[{"text":"Buddhism","id":"THES48984"}],"styles":[{"text":"Phnom Da","id":"AAT107072"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2011EV3941","2011EV3947"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"47a","id":"THES49797"},"free":"","case":"CA017","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Figure","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Cambodia","id":"x30020"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"7th century","earliest":"0600-01-01","latest":"0700-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"32.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This object was purchased from Alex Biancardi (Walmore Collection) in 1988.\r\n\r\nAlexander Biancardi (1924–1999) was a collector and dealer whose interest in Asian art, particularly medieval religious sculpture from South and South-East Asia. The V&A holds a substantial group of objects associated with him which were acquired between the late 1980s and late 1990s, through purchases, gifts, and bequests from Biancardi and his family. Several of the works are currently on display.\r\n\r\nBorn in Alexandria, Egypt, Biancardi moved to Australia in 1947, where he entered the textile trade. In the early 1960s, he relocated to France and worked for a Dutch textile company with business interests in Asia. His exposure to the region led him to begin collecting Asian art in the 1950s, a pursuit he continued into the 1990s. He returned to Australia later in life. ","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"The Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, stone, 7th century, Cambodia.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"Phnom Da, Angkor Borei, Cambodia","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Buddhist","id":"AAT73738"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"The Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara\r\n600–700\r\nFound at the cave site of Phnom Da, this figure represents the\r\nearliest identifiable school of Cambodian art. It shows the\r\nBodhisattva Avalokiteshvara who was widely worshipped in\r\nCambodia by this period. A bodhisattva is a being who delays\r\nhis or her own enlightenment in order to help others achieve\r\nsalvation.\r\nStone\r\nCambodia (Phnom Da, Angkor Borei)\r\nMuseum no. IS.22-1988","date":{"text":"14/06/2011","earliest":"2011-06-14","latest":"2011-06-14"}}],"partNumbers":["IS.22-1988"],"accessionNumberNum":"22","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":1988,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-20","recordCreationDate":"2000-02-13","availableToBook":false}}