{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O65784"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O65784/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM4865/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM4865/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AM4865","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O65784/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O65784","accessionNumber":"339-1907","objectType":"Figure","titles":[{"title":"Sculpture","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Standing figure of male donor, holding a bowl, presumably as an offering to a Buddha represented in a larger composition of which this figure once formed a part. The man is moustached, and dressed in a tunic secured at the waist with a long belt. He wears ear and neck ornaments, establishing his status as a wealthy lay devotee. This is Central Asian style of dress was introduced to India by the Kushans, who formed a powerful kingdom in the second century CE which extended across northern and north-west India. The rulers of the Kushan dynasty (2nd – 4th century CE) were converted to Buddhism early in the history of the dynasty, and they proved to be active patrons of Buddhist monuments and monasteries. Their “northern” capital was in Gandhara, and this region of modern-day Pakistan is rich in a Buddhist legacy from this period.\r\n\r\nThis figure once formed part of a larger composition, most probably decorating the base of a stupa platform. He holds in his two raised hands a deep bowl reminiscent of the Buddhist monk’s begging bowl. Presumably it was intended to represent a gift or offering of significant value to warrant depiction in a sculpture of this scale and importance.","physicalDescription":"A carved figure, representing Prince Siddhartha holding the sacred alms-bowl (patra).    The figure has lost its legs from below the thighs. He is holding a  pot as an offering in both hands in front of him. He has a moustache and swept-back wavy hair, and drooping eye-lids, and is dressed in an attire which derives from central Asia.  He is wearing a belted tunic with a long-sleeved undergarment flecked with horizontal dashes over loose trousers. He has long-lobed ears with earrings and a necklace.  \n","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":"Hinduism","id":"THES48941"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2006AM4865"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"47C","id":"THES49795"},"free":"","case":"PL001","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Figure","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Pakistan","id":"x30015"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""},{"place":{"text":"Swat Valley","id":"x35776"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"4th Century","earliest":"0300-01-01","latest":"0400-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Bought (Source not recorded)","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"81","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"12/06/2023","earliest":"2023-06-12","latest":"2023-06-12"},"part":"","note":"Dimensions checked and amended 12/06/2023. "},{"dimension":"Width","value":"30.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"12/06/2023","earliest":"2023-06-12","latest":"2023-06-12"},"part":"","note":"Dimensions checked and amended 12/06/2023."},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"17.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"12/06/2023","earliest":"2023-06-12","latest":"2023-06-12"},"part":"","note":"Dimensions checked and amended 12/06/2023."},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"50","unit":"kg","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"2007","earliest":"2007-01-01","latest":"2007-12-31"},"part":"","note":"Weight as recorded for exhibition of Indian Temple Sculpture, Fundación \"la Caixa\", 2007"}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"From the Swat Vallery, North-West Frontier Province.\r\n\r\nBought (Source not recorded). This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Figure of a donor, schist, Swat Valley, Gandhara, Pakistan, 4th century","bibliographicReferences":[{"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.162, Cat.124","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"Balraj Khanna and George Michell. <u>Human and divine : 2000 years of Indian sculpture</u>. London: Hayward Gallery, c.2000. ISBN: 1853322105","id":"AUTH334096"},"details":"Cat.17, p.25","free":""}],"production":"Swat valley, Gandhara","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Figure of a Buddhist Donor\r\n300–400\r\nKushan period\r\n\r\nThis figure was probably part of a larger composition that decorated the base of a stupa, or mound. Stupas were built to house sacred relics and artefacts. The man is a wealthy Buddhist making an offering to the Buddha. His style of dress is from Central Asia and may have been introduced by the Kushan dynasty, who established an empire in northern India and Pakistan. They converted to Buddhism, and Gandhara was one of their centres of power.\n\r\nSchist\r\nGandhara/North-west Pakistan (Swat Valley)\r\nMuseum no. 339-1907\n\r\n","date":{"text":"01/08/2015","earliest":"2015-08-01","latest":"2015-08-01"}}],"partNumbers":["339-1907"],"accessionNumberNum":"339","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1907,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LN4999","2019LP8082","2019LT4709","2019LU2686"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-10-02","recordCreationDate":"2002-06-06","availableToBook":false}}