Gautama Buddha (Primary Title)
Unknown (Artist)
Seated in yogic posture on a lotus petal–rimmed dais, the Buddha holds his hands in the teaching gesture, the “dharma wheel” (dharmachakra) mudra. The Awakened One’s distinguishing physical features include the ushnisha, a protuberance on top of his head; the urna, a whorl of hair between his eyebrows; and elongated, pierced earlobes, stretched by the heavy earrings he gave up when renouncing his princely life. A consummate example of Kashmiri metal casting, this bronze speaks of the vibrant Buddhist culture of northwest India, one of two primary sources for the transmission of Indian philosophical and artistic practices into Tibet.
Some object records are not complete and do not reflect VMFA's full and current knowledge. VMFA makes routine updates as records are reviewed and enhanced.
