{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O68753"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O68753/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BF1873/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BF1873/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006BF1873","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O68753/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O68753","accessionNumber":"IS.24-1988","objectType":"Sculpture","titles":[{"title":"Sculpture","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This head can be identified as Maitreya, the Buddha of the future, by the presence of a stupa or Buddhist reliquary set in his matted, piled up hair. The style of the head is associated with bronzes excavated at Prakhon Chai and shows the influence of Khmer art.","physicalDescription":"Head of a male figure with a moustache and a high hair bun. A stupa emblem in the headdress identifies him as the bodhisattva Maitreya, the future Buddha and a saviour figure. Measuring 13 cm in height, the head likely belonged to a standing bronze figure that would have reached approximately 100 cm in total height.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"bronze","id":"AAT10957"}],"techniques":[{"text":"lost wax","id":"AAT53113"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Lost wax cast bronze","categories":[{"text":"Buddhism","id":"THES48984"},{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2006BF1873"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"47A (VA)","id":"THES49797"},"free":"","case":"CA001","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Head","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Thailand","id":"x30017"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"8th Century","earliest":"0700-01-01","latest":"0800-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"13","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This object was purchased from Alex Biancardi (Walmore Collection) in 1988.\r\n\r\nAlexander Biancardi (1924–1999) was a collector and dealer who had a particualr in interest in ancient and medieval religious sculpture from South and South-East Asia. The V&A holds a substantial group of objects associated with him which were acquired through purchases, gifts, and bequests from Biancardi and his family between the late 1980s and late 1990s. Several of these objects are currently on display.\n\nBorn in Alexandria, Egypt, Biancardi moved to Australia in 1947, where he entered the textile trade. In the early 1960s, he relocated to France and worked for a Dutch textile company with business interests in Asia. His exposure to the region led him to begin collecting Asian art in the 1950s, a pursuit he continued into the 1990s. He returned to Australia later in life.\n\nIn the past, this sculpture was described as being in the 'Prakhon Chai style', a term referring to a large group (or 'hoard') of bronze sculptures recovered from the Plai Bat II temple site in Buriram Province, Thailand—often referred to as 'Prakhon Chai'. This designation has been removed from the object description, as there is no clear basis for associating a single stylistic category with this diverse and dispersed group of sculptures. Moreover, it is not known whether this particular sculpture was ever part of that group.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Head of the bodhisattva Maitreya, cast bronze, Thailand, 8th century","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Buddhist","id":"AAT73738"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"HEAD OF MAITREYA\r\nBronze\r\nKorat Plateau, North Eastern Thailand\r\n8th century\r\n\r\nIS.24-1988\r\n\r\n\r\nThis head can be identified as Maitreya, the Buddha of the future, by the presence of a stupa or Buddhist reliquary set in his matted, piled up hair. The style of the head is associated with bronzes excavated at Prakhon Chai and shows the influence of Khmer art.   \r\n","date":{"text":"1/10/2008","earliest":"2008-10-01","latest":"2008-10-01"}}],"partNumbers":["IS.24-1988"],"accessionNumberNum":"24","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":1988,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2020MP2170"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-20","recordCreationDate":"2002-10-24","availableToBook":false}}