{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O65729"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O65729/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019ME4410/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019ME4410/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2019ME4410","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019ME4409","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JA4629","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O65729/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O65729","accessionNumber":"IM.31-1935","objectType":"Relief panel","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"The relief is carved in two registers badly damaged along the top margin where there are seated three Buddhas with aureoles behind their (now missing) heads in meditation within a largely missing arcade.  The lower register shows a scene with a central tree with a solar disk behind it. From within the branches of the tree the top half of a  figure (Tree Goddess)with raised hands in the anjali position inclines herself towards the seated figure (the Buddha) on the left of the scene.  He is seated cross-legged with one hand holding his robe in his lap with the other raised across his chest holding his hand with the palm turned inwards. Three turbanned figures stand on the right hand side inclining their heads towards the seated figure in anjalimudra. Two further figures stand behind the seated figure, the outer one turbanned and the inner one without any headgear, (possibly depicting Indra and Brahma).\nThe carving is flanked by rounded mouldings on either side decorated with a sharply carved leaf pattern pointing upwards. The two registers are divided by a bracketed fillet and the shallow base has a bead and cylinder moulding.The subject represents the request of the kings of the Four Quarters and the Spirit of the Rajayatana Tree to the Buddha to resume his seat beneath the Bodhi tree.  Above is a beam-supported platform upon which are seated three Buddhas in the Dhyana position within an arcade of which only the bases of the columns remain.    ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"schist","id":"AAT11626"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carved","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Talcose schist thickly coated with a lime deposit","categories":[{"text":"Buddhism","id":"THES48984"},{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[{"text":"Gandhara style","id":"x32245"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2019ME4410","2019ME4409","2016JA4629"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"010","id":"THES373864"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Panel","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Pakistan","id":"x30015"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"2nd century-4th century","earliest":"0100-01-01","latest":"0400-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Mrs Helena Custance","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"7.25","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"12.5","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"According to Ackermann the subject represents the request of the Kings of the Four Quarters and the Spirit of the Rajayatana Tree to the Buddha to resume his seat beneath the Bodhi tree.  Quagliotti compares this carving with a group of other carvings with similar or related iconography to discuss its complex symbolism, suggesting the moment depicts the Buddha's state of Pure Being, supreme knowledge and absolute liberty.\n  ","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Veneration of the Bodhi tree, grey schist,  4th century AD, Gandhara.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Anna Maria Quagliotti, 'The Buddha, the Solar Disk and the Cosmic Tree. A relief in the Victoria and Albert Museum', <u>Silk Road Art and Archaeology</u>, Kamakura, Japan, vol 2, 1991-1992, pp.73-105. figs 1 and 2"},{"reference":{"text":"Ackermann, Hans Christoph. <u>Narrative Stone Reliefs from Gandhara in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Catalogue and Attempt at a Stylistic History.</u> Reports and Memoirs. Director of the Series Giuseppe Tucci. Volume XVII. IsMEO, Rome, 1975.","id":"AUTH330359"},"details":"p. 160-61, pl. LXXX a","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"buddhism","id":"AAT73738"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["IM.31-1935"],"accessionNumberNum":"31","accessionNumberPrefix":"IM","accessionYear":1935,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-08-19","recordCreationDate":"2002-05-30","availableToBook":true}}