{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O25146"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O25146/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AT8562/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AT8562/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AT8562","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O25146/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O25146","accessionNumber":"IS.80:1-1991","objectType":"Sculpture","titles":[{"title":"Sculpture","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"These three small figures appear to have survived as an original triad representing the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, flanked by two seated female bodhisattvas who may both be forms of Tara, or Tara and Bhrikuti. Avalokiteshvara is shown standing, his right hand lowered in the gesture of giving (varada mudra) and his left raised to support a lotus flower, now damaged. A faint seated figure is visible in his crown, likely representing the Buddha Amitabha. The two female bodhisattvas are nearly identical. Both sit with legs crossed, their left hands supporting them from behind. They wear similarly elaborate crowns and jewellery, though one holds an object in her upturned right palm while the other rests her right hand on her knee, apparently clutching something.\n\nIn all three cases, the style of these sculptures, and particularly the facial features and the simple looped aureoles behind their heads, is identifiable with Indonesia in the 8th or 9th century, specifically Central Java. This was a period of flourishing Buddhist activity in the region, where the use of precious metals for small devotional images is well documented. Gold and, in this case, silver images have been found in both formal and informal excavations across Central Java. Images made of precious metals are less commonly found than those in copper alloy, which was more abundant, and this may also account for the small size of these three sculptures.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Silver","id":"AAT11029"}],"techniques":[{"text":"Lost wax","id":"AAT53113"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver, solid lost-wax cast","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"},{"text":"Figures","id":"THES274372"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Buddhism","id":"THES48984"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2006AT8562"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES394900"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES394900"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES394900"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Figure","id":""}],[{"text":"Figure","id":""}],[{"text":"Figure","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Central Java","id":"x37113"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"8th century to 9th century","earliest":"0700-01-01","latest":"0899-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Seated figures 4.2 cm.","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Purchased from Spink and Son for £8000. in 1991","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Three Buddhist sculptures of bodhisattvas, silver, Central Java, Indonesia, 8th or 9th century","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Christie's Amsterdam, Fine Indonesian Sculptures  cat. 7th June 1989."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Buddhism","id":"AAT73738"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["IS.80:1-1991","IS.80:2-1991","IS.80:3-1991"],"accessionNumberNum":"80","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":1991,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Figure [1]","Figure [2]","Figure [3]"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-06-26","recordCreationDate":"2000-02-14","availableToBook":true}}