{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O40333"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O40333/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2024NU5347/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2024NU5347/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2024NU5347","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AT8846","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O40333/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O40333","accessionNumber":"IS.72-1993","objectType":"Standing Bodhisattva","titles":[{"title":"Sculpture","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This figure is identifiable as Avalokitesvara by the image of the Buddha Amitabha in its headdress and by the antelope skin tied around its waist. At the time this image was made peninsular Thailand formed part of the maritime kingdom of Srivijaya whose kings were patrons of the monastic university at Nalanda in north-east India. The style of the figure's flaming nimbus and cascading hair shows influences from that part of India.","physicalDescription":"This sculpture represents the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, the Lord of Compassion. He stands upright with his legs close together, wearing a cloth wrap secured by a broad belt. He originally had four arms: one holds a lotus flower, while the other three are now unidentifiable due to damage. A nimbus or halo once rose behind the figure’s head, though this too is now damaged. He wears jewellery around the neck and upper arms. Clearly defined tiers in the figure’s high chignon enclose a seated image of the Buddha Amitabha. The patina and surface wear suggest the sculpture was buried for a long time and probably excavated. Although the damage makes identification uncertain, the most common four-armed form of Avalokiteshvara in this period was Amoghapasha Lokanatha, particularly associated with the protection and liberation of beings after death. Stylistically this kind of Buddhist sculpture is associated with the Srivijaya Empire which flourished in the 8th and 9th centuries and spanned Sumatra, the Malay Peninsular and parts of southern Thailand.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"copper alloy","id":"AAT10942"}],"techniques":[{"text":"lost wax","id":"AAT53113"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Cast copper alloy, likely bronze","categories":[{"text":"Buddhism","id":"THES48984"},{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2024NU5347","2006AT8846"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"47A","id":"THES49797"},"free":"","case":"1","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Figure","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Thailand","id":"x30017"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""},{"place":{"text":"Malaysia","id":"x30048"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"7th century - 8th century","earliest":"0600-01-01","latest":"0800-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Purchased with Art Fund support","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"18.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"22/01/2024","earliest":"2024-01-22","latest":"2024-01-22"},"part":"figure","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"22/01/2024","earliest":"2024-01-22","latest":"2024-01-22"},"part":"figure","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"3.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"22/01/2024","earliest":"2024-01-22","latest":"2024-01-22"},"part":"figure","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"22/01/2024","earliest":"2024-01-22","latest":"2024-01-22"},"part":"stand","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"4.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"22/01/2024","earliest":"2024-01-22","latest":"2024-01-22"},"part":"stand","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"4.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"22/01/2024","earliest":"2024-01-22","latest":"2024-01-22"},"part":"stand","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This object was formerly in the collection of Gilbert Beatty (1887–1967), born Richard John Beatty (also spelled Beattie). Between 1911 and 1951, Beatty worked in various administrative positions at rubber plantations and in government in Malacca, Malaysia. He assembled a large collection of South-East Asian art before the Second World War. In the late 1950s, he became friendly with his neighbours, the Knight family. David Knight (d. 1993), who was then a child, took a particular interest in Beatty’s collection, which he often saw during visits to Beatty’s home-cum-guest house, ‘Palm Beach.’\r\n\r\nIn 1960, Gilbert Beatty gave much of his collection to David Knight. The objects were shipped to the UK with the rest of the Knight family’s possessions later that year aboard HMS Oxford Castle. Beatty reportedly donated the remainder of his collection to a local museum. Between 1991 and his death in 1993, David Knight donated or sold much of the Beatty Collection to the Victoria & Albert Museum.\n\nSee Victoria & Albert Museum registered file numbers 1991/2044, 1993/599, 1993/600, 1993/823","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Standing bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, cast copper alloy sculpture, 7th or 8th century, Thailand or Malaysia","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"Malay Peninsular Style","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"BODHISATTVA AVALOKITESVARA\r\nBronze\r\nThai peninsular\r\nCa.7th-8th century\r\n\r\n\r\nIS 72-1993\r\n\r\nThis figure is identifiable as Avalokitesvara by the image of the Buddha Amitabha in its headdress and by the antelope skin tied around its waist. At the time this image was made peninsular Thailand formed part of the maritime kingdom of Srivijaya whose kings were patrons of the monastic university at Nalanda in north-east India. The style of the figure’s flaming nimbus and cascading hair shows influences from that part of India.  \r\n\r\n","date":{"text":"1/10/2008","earliest":"2008-10-01","latest":"2008-10-01"}}],"partNumbers":["IS.72-1993"],"accessionNumberNum":"72","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":1993,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2021MU8215"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-07-01","recordCreationDate":"2000-06-08","availableToBook":false}}