AMICO Sample Records
Catalog Record in Data Dictionary Format

AID	ASIA.1979.047
OTY	Sculpture
CLG
	CLT	Bronzes
OTG
	OTN	Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara
MET	H. 26 3/4 in. (67.9 cm)
MEG
	MCM	overall
	MED	Height
	MDV	67.9
	MDU	cm
MEG
	MCM	overall
	MED	Height
	MDV	26 3/4
	MDU	in.
OMG
	OMD	Gilt copper with inlays of semiprecious stone
	OMM	copper
	OMM	semiprecious stone
CRG
	CRT	Nepalese
	CRC	Nepalese
OCG
	OCT	Transitional period, late 10th-early 11th century
OCP	Nepal
CXG
	CXD	Historically, Nepal consisted of a much smaller region than the modern nation, which was formed during the 18th century, encompasses today. It included only the section known as the Kathmandu Valley and a few outlying areas. Nepali art was created by artists of Newari descent within this limited geographic area, and for this reason exhibits a certain conservatism and consistency. Yet because of Nepal's critical location-linking north and east India with other nations of the Himalayas such as Tibet-there are also mutual influences between Nepali art and that of other styles found throughout the Himalayan region. This late 10th- or early 11th-century sculpture of Avalokiteshvara demonstrates the more elaborate modeling and greater detail of Nepali sculpture from this time, along with the influence of Pala-period Indian conventions. The bodhisattva's transparent garment is indicated by delicate floral patterns and thin incised lines about the knees that represent the hemline. The sash, cord, and other adornments are thick and elaborate. Both of the figure's hands are held in the gesture of teaching (vitarkamudra), in which the thumb touches the index or middle finger, suggesting that this sculpture was originally part of a triad consisting of the Buddha Amitabha and the bodhisattvas Avalokiteshvara and Mahamasthamaprapta. This gesture is used by both Amitabha and Avalokiteshvara when they are shown guiding the souls of the faithful to rebirth in Amitabha's pure land, known as Sukhavati. This is one of the earliest extant examples of the use of semiprecious stone inlays to decorate a sculpture. Originally all of the circular depressions in the jewelry would have been filled with multicolored stones; few remain today. The use of inlays spread from Nepal to Tibet, and such decorate inlays are among the most distinctive features of Himalayan sculpture.
OOG
	OON	Asia Society
	OOP	New York, New York, USA
	OOA	1979.047
	OOC	Asia Society: The Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection
ORG
	ORL	http://www.asiasociety.org
RIG
	RIP	Y
	RID	Full view
	RIR	HasFormat
	RIL	ASIA.1979.047.a.tif
RDG
	RDD	Asia Society. Handbook of the Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection. New York: Asia Society, [1981], p. 24.
	RDR	IsReferencedBy
RDG
	RDD	Treasures of Asian Art: Selections from the Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection, The Asia Society, New York. Hong Kong and Singapore: Hong Kong Museum of Art and National Museum Singapore, 1993, pp. 66, 67.
	RDR	IsReferencedBy
RDG
	RDD	Huntington, John C. 'Three Essays on Himalayan Metal Images.' Apollo (November 1983), pp. 420-22.
	RDR	IsReferencedBy
RDG
	RDD	Huntington, Susan L., and John C. Huntington. Leaves from the Bodhi Tree: The Art of Pala India (8th-12th Centuries) and Its International Legacy. Dayton and Seattle: Dayton Art Institute and University of Washington Press, 1990, p. 274.
	RDR	IsReferencedBy
RDG
	RDD	Lee, Sherman E. Asian Art: Selections from the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd. New York: Asia Society, 1970, pp. 18, 19, 31.
	RDR	IsReferencedBy
RDG
	RDD	Pal, Pratapaditya. 'Rockefeller Bronzes: The Indian Tradition.' ARTnews 69 (September 1970), pp. 48-49, 76-77.
	RDR	IsReferencedBy
RDG
	RDD	Treasures of Asian Art: Selections from the Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection, The Asia Society, New York. Tokyo: Idemitsu Museum of Arts, 1992, pp. 50, 123-24.
	RDR	IsReferencedBy
RDG
	RDD	Young, Mahonri Sharp. 'Treasures of the Orient: A Rockefeller Collection.' Apollo (November 1970), pp. 329-39.
	RDR	IsReferencedBy
AVD	20000602
AVV	1.2
ALY	1998
ADP	PARSE-ERROR: OCT: Can't parse string: 'Transitional period, late 10th'!

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