{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O73072"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O73072/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AF5026/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AF5026/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AF5026","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AF3674","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O73072/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O73072","accessionNumber":"226-1865","objectType":"Model","titles":[{"title":"Buddha in Tavatimsa Heaven","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This model is an example of the simple village art which is prolific  in Burma (now Myanmar). The bronze represents the Buddha in the Tavatimsa Heaven and corresponds well with descriptions in the Pali texts and the Jataka stories, which recount the Buddha's previous incarnations. \r\n\r\nThe Tavatimsa is the second of the six Buddhist heavens and stands at the top of Mount Meru; Sakka is its king. The Buddha spent three months there preaching the Abhidhamma to his mother. He is depicted at the top of the bronze sitting on King Sakka's throne in the Sudhamma meeting hall. He also preached from the foot of the Paricchatta tree, which is one of the characteristic features of the Tavatimsa Heaven, distinguishing it from other heavens. A flower from the tree is shown to the right of the building in which the Buddha is seated. A stupa containing relics of the Buddha can be seen behind the building to the right. In front, a ladder, which was said to have been made of jewels, leads down to earth at Sankassa (the modern town of Sankissa). A shrine was erected at the spot where the Buddha's right foot touched the earth and is probably represented here by the building at the bottom. The pyramid-shaped buildings at each corner are likely to correspond to the four earthly continents.","physicalDescription":"The model represents the Buddha in the Tavatimsa Heaven seated on Sakka's throne in the Sudhamma meeting hall (shown at the top of this bronze). A bloom of the Paricchatta tree, (the tree distinguishes the Tavatimsa Heaven) is shown to the right of the building in which Buddha is seated. Behind and to the right of this building can be seen the Chulamanicetiya (thupa) in which was placed relics of the Buddha. In front, a ladder, which was said to have been made of jewels, leads down to earth, which it reached at Sankassa. A shrine was erected at the spot where the Buddha's right foot touched the earth, and it is this that is probably intended by the building shown at the bottom. The pyramid-shaped buildings at each corner are probably intended to represent the four earthly continents.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"bronze","id":"AAT10957"}],"techniques":[{"text":"casting","id":"AAT53104"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Cast bronze","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Buddhism","id":"THES48984"}],"styles":[{"text":"Konbaung","id":"x30379"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2006AF5026","2006AF3674"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES368217"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Model","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Burma","id":"x30037"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"before 1865","earliest":null,"latest":"1864-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Bequeathed by Mrs. Boyd Miller","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"17.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"10.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Said to be dug out of the ruins at Moulmein, India","historicalContext":"Popular contents of relic chambers since the Pagan period include small effigies of the Buddha participating in important events of his life, such as his birth in Lumphini Grove, taking leave of the palace (see IS 2-1935), as here preaching to his mother in the Tavatimsa Heaven and his Parinirvana (death).","briefDescription":"Burmese cast bronze. Model of Buddha in Tavatimsa Heaven. Recovered from a ruins in Moulmein before 1865. Date uncertain, but possibly first half of the 19th century.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Burmese art / John Lowry. London: H. M. Stationery Office, 1974 Number: 0112901794 :","id":"AUTH339985"},"details":"pl. 14","free":""}],"production":"Recovered from a ruins in Moulmein before 1865.\n\nAttribution note: This is an example of the simple village art of which there is a great deal in Burma.","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["226-1865"],"accessionNumberNum":"226","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1865,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-24","recordCreationDate":"2003-01-15","availableToBook":true}}