one of pair of Bodhisattvas crowned, seated in Dhyana (meditation) mudra on thrones with flame halo; gilt bronze; Tibetan

Bodhisattva, one of a pair, 1770

Unknown artist, expand_more

Gilt bronzeexpand_more

Gift of Louis W. Hill, Jr.expand_more  76.72.105.1

Such popular Buddhist images as Avalokitesvara, the compassionate one, were occasionally produced in sets. Since the act of making or commissioning a religious work was considered pious in itself, those who could afford it often commissioned multiple images. Here the jeweled and crowned deity is represented as a perfectly poised yogi seated in the lotus posture on a dais, the hands placed together in the lap forming the dhyana mudra, the gesture of meditation. The figures are set off by aureoles adorned with a flame motif representing purity. The identical inscriptions written in Chinese characters across the bases read: "Reverently made in the gengyin year of Qianlong (1770) during the great Qing Dynasty."

Details
Title
Bodhisattva, one of a pair
Role
Artist
Accession Number
76.72.105.1
Curator Approved

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one of pair of Bodhisattvas crowned, seated in Dhyana (meditation) mudra on thrones with flame halo; gilt bronze; Tibetan