Untitled

Unknown

12th century · Wood with traces of paint; decorative mounts of silver with gilt semiprecious stones, and gilt-copper alloy · Asian Art

These unique, large-scale book covers illustrate the complex interrelationship between the Buddhist world of eastern India and that of Tibet during the "second diffusion," when Buddhism in Tibet was purified by renewed contact with Indian Buddhism. They are also fascinating as prototypical objects that help to explain the format and decoration of many Tibetan painted book covers. Nothing like them has survived in India, and they present a new facet of eastern Indian art of the Pala period.

Artist

Unknown

Date

12th century

Medium

Wood with traces of paint; decorative mounts of silver with gilt semiprecious stones, and gilt-copper alloy

Culture

North India and Tibet

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Cynthia Hazen Polsky, 2005