{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O66633"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O66633/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2024NY1295/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2024NY1295/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2024NY1295","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AP1980","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KC9808","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O66633/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O66633","accessionNumber":"IM.322-1921","objectType":"Figure","titles":[{"title":"Kubera","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This sandstone panel is carved in high relief with the figure of Kubera, the Hindu god of wealth. It was probably intended for a small village or wayside shrine. Here Kubera  is seated in the attitude of ‘royal ease’, holding a long purse in his raised hand and a bowl of flowers in the other. His large, corpulent stomach is a sign of his prosperity and worldly comfort. His divine status is indicated by a nimbus (halo). \r\n\r\nThe panel belongs to the Gupta period (320-about 540 AD), when secondary deities such as Kubera assumed a secure place in the Hindu pantheon. The concept of Kubera as god of wealth also exists in a Buddhist context, where he is known as Jambhala.","physicalDescription":" This is one of the earliest representations of Kubera, god of wealth. He holds a drinking cup (with lotus-pattern cover) and a cloth purse, symbol of the wealth he guards over. Kubera is seated in ‘royal ease’ (<i>rajalilasana)</i>, the posture of princes. He is haloed, adorned with a pearl string, arm-bands and pendant ear ornaments and wears a skirt-cloth, visible at the waist and mid-calf. His physique is corpulent and gross, as befits his name.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Sandstone","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Hinduism","id":"THES48941"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2024NY1295","2006AP1980","2017KC9808"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES404217"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Figure","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Uttar Pradesh","id":"x29845"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"Kaman near Mathura"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"5th century-6th century","earliest":"0400-01-01","latest":"0600-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"MA/1/W1107","id":"ARC188469"},"association":"Archive record"}],"creditLine":"Given by Major E.A. Weinholt","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"225","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"(Without base)"},{"dimension":"Height","value":"280","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"(With base)"},{"dimension":"Width","value":"141","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"(Maximum width of object)"},{"dimension":"Width","value":"146","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"(Width of base)"},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"70","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"(Maximum depth of object)"},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"86","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"(Depth of base)"},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"4732","unit":"g","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"(Including base)"},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"3319","unit":"g","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"(Excluding base)"}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Kubera, the ‘ill-shaped one’, a <i>yaksa</i> deity absorbed into Hinduism as the protector of riches and treasures. He is conventionally depicted accompanied by a mongoose, from whose open jaws flow pearls and precious stones. \r\nKubera is further associated with agricultural productivity, presumably because of his power over water - where treasures are stored, guarded by the nagas over whom he has overlordship. In Hindu cosmology he also serves as a directional guardian (<u>dikpala</u>), presiding over the north. He serves the same function in later Buddhism, where he is also acknowledged as Jambhala, the god of riches. \r\nThis small sculpture from the Mathura district of northern India, carved in the pink sandstone characteristic of the region, exhibits the distinctive Gupta-style treatment of the deity’s hair, ornaments and nimbus. It was probably intended for a small village or wayside shrine.\r\n","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Figure of a seated Kubera, sandstone, Kaman, near Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, 5th-6th century, Gupta period.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"A K Coomaraswamy, <u>Yaksas</u>, 1971 (reprint), pl 4.2 as Kusana\r\nGuy, John: <u>Indian Temple Sculpture</u>, London,  V&A Publication, 2007, p.40, pl.41.\r\nISBN 9781851775095\r\nGuy, John (ed.). <u>L’Escultura en els Temples Indis: L’Art de la Devocio</u>, Barcelona : Fundacio ‘La Caixa’, 2007. p.57, cat. 16.. ISBN: 9788476649466"},{"reference":{"text":"Jansari, S. and Muthukumaran S., <i>Ancient India: Living Traditions</i>, London: The British Museum Press, 2025","id":"AUTH410830"},"details":"pp. 25-16, Fig. 1.8","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Kubera","id":"N1094"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"bowl","id":"AAT203596"},{"text":"lotus","id":"AAT165258"},{"text":"purse","id":"AAT215521"},{"text":"halo","id":"x35202"}],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Hinduism","id":"AAT73727"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"13. Kubera, God of Wealth\r\n400–600\r\nGupta period\r\nSandstone\r\nPossibly northern India\r\nReportedly from Kaman, near Mathura, Uttar Pradesh\r\nGiven by Major D.A. Weinholt\r\nMuseum no. IM.322-1921","date":{"text":"06/06/2011","earliest":"2011-06-06","latest":"2011-06-06"}}],"partNumbers":["IM.322-1921"],"accessionNumberNum":"322","accessionNumberPrefix":"IM","accessionYear":1921,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2025PD5216","2025PD5122","2025PD5119","2019LW9355"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-07","recordCreationDate":"2002-07-11","availableToBook":false}}