Untitled

Unknown

8th–9th century · Bronze with traces of gilt · Asian Art

Considerable innovations in religious iconography were developed during the Mon-Dvaravati period. For example, many Buddhas hold both of their hands in a gesture of exposition or teaching (vitarkamudra) that in India is confined to the right hand. Images from the related site of Prakhon Chai also exhibit this double hand gesture, but otherwise it is unknown in the Buddhist world. Another iconographic innovation was to place a standing Buddha and flanking attendants on the back of Garuda, a semidivine winged creature that usually appears as the vehicle (vahana) of Vishnu.

Artist

Unknown

Date

8th–9th century

Medium

Bronze with traces of gilt

Culture

Thailand (Nakhon Pathom Province)

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Fletcher Fund, 1959