Untitled

Unknown

ca. 10th century · Bone with traces of color and gold paint · Asian Art

This container likely served as a Buddhist reliquary. There are three scenes: the first shows the miraculous birth of Siddhartha, the historical Buddha. He emerges from the right side of his mother, Queen Maya, who is supported by her sister, Mahaprajapati. The second scene depicts the temptation of Siddhartha as he meditates at Bodhgaya immediately before attaining enlightenment. The third scene is a rare representation of the crowned and jeweled Buddha setting into motion the wheel of law, a reference to his first sermon at the Deer Park at Sarnath.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 10th century

Medium

Bone with traces of color and gold paint

Culture

India (Jammu & Kashmir, ancient kingdom of Kashmir) or Pakistan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of John and Evelyn Kossak, The Kronos Collections, 1985