Untitled

Unknown

7th–8th century · Ivory with traces of color · Asian Art

This diminutive panel depicts the Buddha’s descent from Trayastrimsha heaven, where he visited to preach the Buddhist gospel (dharma) to his mother, who had died soon after his birth. The three steps below his feet indicate the ladder upon which he descended. This miracle was widely depicted in the early Buddhist world. Here, umbrella and flywhisk bearers attend the Buddha, while airborne celebrants present garlands.

Artist

Unknown

Date

7th–8th century

Medium

Ivory with traces of color

Culture

India (Jammu and Kashmir, ancient kingdom of Kashmir),

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Purchase, Rogers and Seymour Funds; Margery and Harry Kahn and Mr. and Mrs. Peter Findlay Gifts; Gifts of Albert Ten Eyck Gardner, Florance Waterbury and Jacob Weisman, by exchange; Gift of Mrs. Laurent Oppenheim, in memory of her husband, and Gift of Albert Angell Southwick, in memory of Mrs. Charles Waterbury Clark, by exchange; Bequest of Florance Waterbury, in memory of her father, John I. Waterbury and Bequest of Gilbert H. Montague, in memory of his wife, Amy Angell Collier Montague, by exchange, 1979.