{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O24992"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O24992/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BF1864/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BF1864/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006BF1864","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O24992/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O24992","accessionNumber":"IS.38-1988","objectType":"Sculpture","titles":[{"title":"Head of the Buddha","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This head originally formed part of a large-scale image of Buddha Shakyamuni.  It may date from the end of the Shailendra dynasty, which ruled Java between 760 and 830AD.  The Shailendra rulers were strong supporters of Mahayana Buddhism and erected many Buddhist monuments in central Java, including the great temple complex of Borobudur.","physicalDescription":"Head of Buddha Shakyamuni of carved stone.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Stone","categories":[{"text":"Buddhism","id":"THES48984"},{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[{"text":"Central Javanese style","id":"x32240"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2006BF1864"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"47F","id":"THES49793"},"free":"","case":"PL4","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Head","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Java","id":"x30310"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"early 9th century","earliest":"0800-01-01","latest":"0850-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by the Walmore Collection","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"32.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"08/01/2026","earliest":"2026-01-08","latest":"2026-01-08"},"part":"Head","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"24","unit":"cm","qualifier":"maximum","date":{"text":"08/01/2026","earliest":"2026-01-08","latest":"2026-01-08"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"23","unit":"cm","qualifier":"maximum","date":{"text":"08/01/2026","earliest":"2026-01-08","latest":"2026-01-08"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"49","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"08/01/2026","earliest":"2026-01-08","latest":"2026-01-08"},"part":"With mount","note":"Height on modern mount"}],"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":"The Sailendra dynasty, which ruled central Java from 760 until 800, was responsible for establishing Mahayana Buddhism in the region and for constructing a series of remarkable Buddhist monuments.  The most spectacular of these was Borobudor, designed as a three-dimensional mandala (cosmological diagram).  This and other monuments in the region were richly decorated with narrative reliefs and free-standing sculptures.  This head is probably from a large scale seated Buddha image in this region.  Early in the 9th century the Sailendras were displaced by the Sanjaya dynasty who, whilst allowing Buddhism to continue to flourish, instigated a Hindu renaissance symbolised by the construction of the great temple complex at Prambanan.  The region fell into neglect with the move of the ruling houses to east Java in the 10th century.","briefDescription":"Head of the Buddha Shakyamuni, stone, Central Javanese style, Java, Indonesia, early 9th century.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"Java, Indonesia","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Buddhism","id":"AAT73738"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Head of the Buddha\r\n800–30\r\nShailendra dynasty\r\nCentral Java\r\nStone\r\nThe head originally formed part of a large-scale image\r\nof Buddha Shakyamuni. It may date from the end of\r\nthe Shailendra dynasty, which ruled Java between 760\r\nand 830. The Shailendra rulers were strong supporters\r\nof Mahayana Buddhism and erected many Buddhist\r\nmonuments in central Java, including the great temple\r\ncomplex of Borobudur.\r\nMuseum no. IS.38-1988","date":{"text":"1/4/2009","earliest":"2009-04-01","latest":"2009-04-01"}},{"text":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}},{"text":"Head of the Buddha\r\n800–850\r\nSailendra dynasty\r\nThis head is from a life-sized Buddha Shakyamuni image.\r\nIt may date from the end of the Sailendra dynasty, which\r\nruled Java between AD 760 and 830. The Sailendra rulers\r\nwere strong supporters of Mahayana and Vajrayana\r\nBuddhism and erected many Buddhist monuments in\r\ncentral Java, including Borobodur.\r\nCentral Java, Indonesia\r\nStone\r\nMuseum no. IS.38-1988","date":{"text":"03/08/2015","earliest":"2015-08-03","latest":"2015-08-03"}}],"partNumbers":["IS.38-1988"],"accessionNumberNum":"38","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":1988,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LW7624"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-08","recordCreationDate":"2000-02-13","availableToBook":false}}