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Standing Avalokiteshvara

16th century
Not on view
Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of this cosmic age, is shown with one hand lowered in the boon-giving gesture (varada mudra), while the other holds a lotus. This rare image is carved of sandalwood—an inherently pure, uncorrupted, and auspicious material. Early texts tell us that the mythical first image of the Buddha was carved of sandalwood at the time he traveled to Tushita heaven to teach his mother the path to enlightenment. Hence, this figure would have been understood as related to that original image-making tradition.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Standing Avalokiteshvara
  • Date: 16th century
  • Culture: Nepal (Kathmandu Valley)
  • Medium: Sandalwood, traces of polychrome and gold
  • Dimensions: H. 6 in. (15.2 cm)
  • Classification: Sculpture
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1947
  • Object Number: 47.108
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
Vajracarya Priest's Crown, Copper, gold, turquoise, semi-precious stones, silver foil, Nepalese
Vajracarya Priest's Crown
Nepalese
ca. 15th–16th century
Bodhisattva Guanyin, Sandalwood with lacquer, China
Bodhisattva Guanyin
China
datable to 1624
Ewer, Bronze (?)
Ewer
17th–18th century
Bodhisattva Guanyin, Sandalwood with lacquer and gilding, single-woodblock construction, China
Bodhisattva Guanyin
China
datable to1678
Guanyin the Bringer of Sons, Sandalwood with traces of pigment and gilding, China
Guanyin the Bringer of Sons
China
17th century

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