{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O68992"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O68992/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AU3624/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AU3624/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AU3624","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O68992/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O68992","accessionNumber":"IS.30-1988","objectType":"Figure","titles":[{"title":"The Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"Standing figure of the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, identified by the seated figure of the Buddha Amitābha in his hair. The high-piled hair, elongated limbs, languid stance, and simply incised skirt (<i>dhoti</i>) suggest that the sculpture was made in southern Thailand or Sumatra in the second half of the 8th century. The broad facial features and sharply incised brow line suggest southern Thailand as the most likely place of manufacture. Although the arms are damaged below the elbows, it is probable that the figure once held a lotus in his left hand, with the right hand extended, palm outwards, in the gesture of giving (<i>varada</i>). The gentle flex at the waist suggests that the figure was made as part of a triad, standing to the right of the Buddha and joined on the left by the bodhisattva Maitreya. This iconographic configuration was popular across the Malacca Strait, along the Malay Peninsula, in southern Thailand, and on Sumatra, in the region associated with the Śrīvijaya trade state.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Copper alloy","id":"x40014"},{"text":"","id":""}],"techniques":[{"text":"Lost wax","id":"AAT53113"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Copper alloy, lost-wax cast","categories":[{"text":"Images Online","id":"THES48937"},{"text":"Buddhism","id":"THES48984"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2006AU3624"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES368216"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Figure","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Thailand","id":"x30017"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""},{"place":{"text":"Sumatra","id":"x35701"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"Sculptures of this style have been found on either side of the Malacca Strait, on the Malay Peninsula in southern Thailand and on Sumatra"}],"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":"170","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"02/10/2025","earliest":"2025-10-02","latest":"2025-10-02"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"48","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"02/10/2025","earliest":"2025-10-02","latest":"2025-10-02"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"26","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"02/10/2025","earliest":"2025-10-02","latest":"2025-10-02"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"205","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"With base","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 whose interest in Asian art, particularly medieval religious sculpture from South and South-East Asia. The V&amp;A holds a substantial group of objects associated with him which were acquired between the late 1980s and late 1990s, through purchases, gifts, and bequests from Biancardi and his family. Several of the works are currently on display.\r\n\r\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. ","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, copper alloy, Sumatra or southern Thailand, 8th century","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"Srivijaya Style","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Buddhist","id":"AAT73738"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["IS.30-1988"],"accessionNumberNum":"30","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":1988,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-02-12","recordCreationDate":"2002-10-31","availableToBook":false}}