Seated Buddha

Nepalese

about 7th century

Object Place: Nepal

Medium/Technique Gilt copper

Dimensions Approximately 7.6 cm (3 in.)

Credit Line Ross-Coomaraswamy Collection

Accession Number17.2317

NOT ON VIEW

CollectionsAsia

ClassificationsSculpture

DescriptionThis small statue represents Sakyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. The Buddha is seated in the cross-legged meditation posture with his hands held in the teaching pose (dharma-cakra-mudra or vyakhyana mudra) in which he symbolically turns the wheel of Buddhist law. The smooth drapery and simple, swelling form of this Buddha link it to the art of north-eastern India during the late Gupta dynasty.

ProvenanceBy 1916, purchased by Ananda K. Coomaraswamy (b. 1887 - d. 1947); 1917, sold by Ananda K. Coomaraswamy to Denman Waldo Ross (b. 1853 - d. 1935), Cambridge, MA; 1917, given by Denman Waldo Ross to the MFA. (Accession date: April 5, 1917)