Unknown Artist
Reliquary box with lotus design
- Location
- Upper Asian gallery
- Further information
This rare box is in remarkable condition and still contains its precious relics, most likely because it was preserved inside a stupa. The contents are essentially intact and comprise the gold finial of a stupa (consisting of a square entablature, or 'harmika', and parasol), a small round gold box filled with tiny beads and rock dust, and a larger round copper box, the contents of which have been removed.
The Asian Collections, AGNSW, 2003, pg.28.
- Place of origin
-
Ancient Gandhara,
Pakistan
- Period
- India: Kushan period mid 1st century–early 5th century
- Year
- 1st century
- Media
- Sculpture
- Medium
- schist, contents gold
- Dimensions
- 8.7 x 8.7cm diam. [sphere]
:
a - base; 7.3 x 8.7cm; height x diam.
b - lid; 1.4 x 5.3cm; height x diam.
c - gold piece; [preserved inside box]
d - gold piece; [preserved inside box]
e - gold piece; [preserved inside box] - Signature & date
- Not signed. Not dated.
- Credit
- Bequest of Alex Biancardi 2000
- Accession number
- 28.2000.a-e
