{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O63825"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O63825/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CB5752/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CB5752/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2009CB5752","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O63825/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O63825","accessionNumber":"IS.108-2001","objectType":"Figure","titles":[{"title":"Seated Buddha","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"A large-scale image of the Buddha seated cross-legged in a yogic posture (padmasana), his hands resting in a meditation position. The Buddha is deep in meditation, a model yogi. He wears his monastic robe over both shoulders in a manner closely associated with the Gandharan school of Kushan Buddhist art, though it is also known as Mathura. The robes are treated with deep folds and pleats that animate the figure and are masterfully conceived. The robes covers all his body, revealing only his hands and one foot which projects from beneath the robe. The Buddha is seated on a cushioned throne support, with lion-claw legs and drawn drapery. Beneath the throne-seat is a scene in which the Buddha is shown, with uncut hair before his renunciation, attended by followers and others paying homage to him. This scene alludes to the earlier (and failed) paths that the Sakyamuni pursued before gaining an understanding of the true path and pursuing the Middle Way.\r\n\r\nThe Buddha’s head displays a fully developed skull protuberance (ushnisa), in which the top-knot flourish of hair seen in earlier images has been conventionalised into a formal supernatural auspicious mark (laksana). A large unadorned halo frames the Buddha’s head. This is an image of great majesty and quiet authority, a quintessential icon of the Buddha as the master of yoga.","physicalDescription":"Grey schist figure of the Buddha seated crossed-legged. He is draped in flowing robes and has a nimbus. His hands are clasped in front of him. The base has carved figures, including a smaller seated Buddha.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"schist","id":"AAT11626"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Schist","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Buddhism","id":"THES48984"}],"styles":[{"text":"Kushan","id":"AAT18886"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2009CB5752"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"47F","id":"THES49793"},"free":"","case":"PL008","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Figure","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Gandhara","id":"x32655"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"3rd century-4th century","earliest":"0200-01-01","latest":"0400-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Bequeathed by Dr Edward May","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"75","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"08/01/2026","earliest":"2026-01-08","latest":"2026-01-08"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"40.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"maximum","date":{"text":"08/01/2026","earliest":"2026-01-08","latest":"2026-01-08"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"15","unit":"cm","qualifier":"approx.","date":{"text":"08/01/2026","earliest":"2026-01-08","latest":"2026-01-08"},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Bequest of Dr Edward May","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Buddha seated in meditation, schist, Gandhara, Pakistan, 3rd-4th century","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"\r\nClarke, John: Arts of Asia, vol. 45, no. 5, September - October 2015, \"The Buddha image in Asia: Phase One of the Robert  H. N.Ho Family Foundation Galleries of Buddhist Art\", p.115, pl. 2."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Orientations; vol. 40. no. 4; May 2009; The Robert H.N. Ho Family Foundation Gallery, Victoria & Albert Museum.\r\nClarke, John: Buddhist Sculpture, p. 36."},{"reference":{"text":"L'escultura en el temples indis : l'art de la devoció : exposició organitzada per la Fundació \"La Caixa\" i el Victoria & Albert Museum, Londres. [Barcelona: Obra social, Fundació \"la Caixa\", c2007 Number: 9788476649466","id":"AUTH339669"},"details":"p.133, Cat.89","free":"\r\n"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Buddha Seated in Meditation\r\nAD 200–400\r\nAncient Gandhara\r\nPakistan\r\nSchist\r\nWorks such as this, made in the ancient kingdom\r\nof Gandhara, show the influence of classical sculpture.\r\nThis is the result of former Greek rule in the area\r\nand more recent trade with the Roman Empire. The\r\nmeditating Buddha sits cross-legged on a cushioned\r\nthrone, his hands resting in his lap in the gesture\r\nof meditation, or dhyana mudra.\r\nBequest of Dr E. May\r\nMuseum no. IS.108-2001\r\n400–200","date":{"text":"1/4/2009","earliest":"2009-04-01","latest":"2009-04-01"}},{"text":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}},{"text":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}},{"text":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}},{"text":"Buddha Seated in Meditation\r\nAD 200–400\r\nKushan dynasty\r\nThe ancient region of Gandhara, in present day Pakistan\r\nand Afghanistan, was a source of early images of the\r\nBuddha. Here, the meditating Buddha sits cross-legged,\r\nin the gesture of meditation, or dhyana mudra. The\r\nfacial features and robes show the influence of classical\r\nsculpture. Alexander the Great conquered parts of Central\r\nAsia in the 4th century BC, and established settlements\r\nthere. The Greek influence in the region lasted for many\r\ncenturies.\r\nGandhara, Pakistan\r\nSchist\r\nMuseum no. IS.108-2001\r\n400–200","date":{"text":"03/08/2015","earliest":"2015-08-03","latest":"2015-08-03"}}],"partNumbers":["IS.108-2001"],"accessionNumberNum":"108","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":2001,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LW7599"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-21","recordCreationDate":"2001-12-18","availableToBook":false}}