Untitled

Unknown

ca. 15th century · Silvered copper alloy · Asian Art

In Sri Lanka and Myanmar—both home to the Theravada Buddhist tradition—revered teachers of the dharma were honored with the internment of their ashes in a model stupa (Sinhalese: dagoba). These reliquaries were routinely housed in temples and shrines associated with that teacher. This example is cast and engraved with ornamentation around the harmika platform at the summit of the dome and bronze Bodhi tree leaves hanging from the umbrella spire.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 15th century

Medium

Silvered copper alloy

Culture

Sri Lanka (central plateau)

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Barry Fernando, M.D. and Coleene Fernando, M.D., 2019