{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O456121"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O456121/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BF1775/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BF1775/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006BF1775","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021MV3104","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O456121/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O456121","accessionNumber":"IM.6-1914","objectType":"Votive tablet","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"Votive tablet in unbaked (sun-dried) clay, medallion form, impressed from a seal or die. O-shaped but with pointed top, with oval seal impressions: a four-armed figure identified as Pra Isuen (the Hindu god Shiva), but perhaps representing the Buddhist bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, seated in Buddha-like fashion with one right hand in the 'witness' or 'earth-touching' attitude, on a lotus-throne; and with six lines of Sanskrit inscription, or formula, on a very small scale, arranged as an aureole. A minute representation of Buddha appears in the figure's head-dress.\r\nThe Sanskrit prayers appear in nagari script, supporting the notion that these impressions were made from moulds, almost certainly bronze, imported from eastern India.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Clay","categories":[{"text":"Hinduism","id":"THES48941"},{"text":"Buddhism","id":"THES48984"},{"text":"Ceramics","id":"THES48982"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2006BF1775","2021MV3104"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"008","id":"THES373681"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Votive tablet","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Thailand","id":"x30017"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"11th century","earliest":"1000-01-01","latest":"1099-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by J.W. Hinchley, Esq.","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"7.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"6.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"2.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Buddhist sites in peninsular Thailand, particularly cave sanctuaries, have been a rich source of impressed clay votive tablets. This tablet together with IM.5-1914 may reflect the early practice of Mahayanist Buddhism in the region: clay impressions were probably deposited at holy sites by worshippers and pilgrims as votive offerings.\r\n\r\nThis object was donated to the V&A by J.W. Hinchley (John William Hinchley, 1871-1931) in 1914. John Hinchley was an English engineer who went to work in Bangkok, Siam, in c.1903/1904, as head of the Royal Mint of Siam. He returned to London in 1906/1907 and was later appointed as the first professor of chemical engineering at Imperial College.  \r\n\r\nIM.5 and 6-1914 were reported to have been found, together with many other similar tablets, in the limestone caves at Wat Han, near the Trang River, north of ‘Kouantani’, in Trang province, Thailand. They were likely acquired by John Hinchley while he was working in Bangkok and brought back to London by him.  John Hinchley’s wife, Edith Mary Hinchley, also donated objects, including from Siam, to the V&A, and to the British Museum.  \r\n\r\nSee V&A file RP 1914-1042M.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Ritual, clay, Wat Harm, Thailand, 11th century","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"Found in a cave at Wat Harm, near the Trang River north of Kovantami. It has been suggested that the mould from which the tablet was impressed may have been Indian.","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Pra Isuen","id":"N11473"},{"text":"Shiva","id":"N1687"},{"text":"Avalokiteshvara","id":"N5276"},{"text":"Buddha","id":"N5274"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["IM.6-1914"],"accessionNumberNum":"6","accessionNumberPrefix":"IM","accessionYear":1914,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-12-22","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-25","availableToBook":true}}