{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O471997"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O471997/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017KA6448/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017KA6448/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2017KA6448","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KA6449","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2014HH3532","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O471997/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O471997","accessionNumber":"IS.9-1966","objectType":"Sculpture","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Guardstones are traditionally placed at the base of stairs leading to the platform of a <i>dagaba</i> (stupa) in Sinhalese Buddhist architecture.  They are usually in the form of <i>nagarajas</i>, subdued snake-deities who now serve the  Buddha.  The nagaraja is represented holding a flowering stem and a vase of plenty (<i>purnaghata</i>), symbols of fertility.  This example lacks the elaborate decorative frame, with <i>makaras</i> (mythological water creatures) and flamboyant foliage, seen on the finest examples, and dates from the end of the Anuradhapura period. It would have been one of a pair, placed at the foot of the stairs leading up to a stupa to guard the reliquary mound and its sacred contents.","physicalDescription":"A male figure standing in the <i>atibhanga</i> pose ('exceeding bend', an emphatic  version of the tribhanga  or '3 bends' posture) with a <i>naga</i>-hood (snake's hood), holding in his left hand the stalk of an elongated flower bud, in his right a potted plant (<i>purnaghata</i>). One of a pair with IS.8-1966.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Sandstone","categories":[],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2017KA6448","2017KA6449","2014HH3532"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"47C","id":"THES49795"},"free":"","case":"PL001","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Figure","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 9th century","earliest":"0795-01-01","latest":"0903-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"32.5","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"1966","earliest":"1966-01-01","latest":"1966-12-31"},"part":"","note":"The base of the object is set into its plinth so the height measured in 1966 cannot be checked until the object is next moved. "},{"dimension":"Width","value":"38","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"12/06/2023","earliest":"2023-06-12","latest":"2023-06-12"},"part":"width of object where it is visible above the plinth","note":"Width checked and amended 12/06/2023. The base of the object is set into its plinth so the width given is the maximum width of the visible part of the object. This measurement is the same as the width originally recorded for this object in 1966 (15 inches)."},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"17","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"12/06/2023","earliest":"2023-06-12","latest":"2023-06-12"},"part":"maximum width of visible part of object above plinth","note":"Depth checked and amended 12/06/2023. The base of the object is set into its plinth so the depth given is the maximum depth of the visible part of the object."}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Nagaraja Guardstone, granite, Anuradhapura period, Sri Lanka, 9th century AD","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Nagaraja Guardstone\r\n800–900\r\nAnuradhapura period\r\nSerpent spirits or nagas are associated with water, but also protect buried treasure. This figure, a nagaraja or ‘serpent spirit king’ was one of a pair who would have been placed at the foot of a staircase to a stupa, to guard its precious contents. Buddhists built stupas or mounds to enclose sacred relics. \r\nGranite\r\nSri Lanka \r\nMuseum no. IS.9-1966\r\n","date":{"text":"05/12/2016","earliest":"2016-12-05","latest":"2016-12-05"}}],"partNumbers":["IS.9-1966"],"accessionNumberNum":"9","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":1966,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-20","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-25","availableToBook":false}}