Untitled

Unknown

17th–19th century · Gold, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, garnet, lapis lazuli, coral, turquoise · Asian Art

A pronged lightning bolt (vajra), which stands for the Buddha Vairochana, marks the cosmic axis at this ornament’s center. The vajra also references the diamond throne (vajrasana) under the Bodhi tree, where the historical Buddha Shakyamuni reached enlightenment. Flanking the vajra are the celestial Buddhas Amitabha, Amoghasiddhi, Akshobhya, and Ratnasambhava, who, together with Vairochana, comprise the Tathagatas, or five cosmic Buddhas.

Artist

Unknown

Date

17th–19th century

Medium

Gold, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, garnet, lapis lazuli, coral, turquoise

Culture

Newari for Nepal or Tibet market

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

John Stewart Kennedy Fund, 1915