We acknowledge the Gadigal of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the Country on which the Art Gallery of NSW stands.

Title

Avalokiteshvara, bodhisattva of compassion

circa 8th century

Artists

Unknown Artist

  • Details

    Other Title
    Standing Avalokiteshvara
    Place where the work was made
    Peninsular Thailand → Thailand
    Period
    Srivijaya period 700 - 1200 → Thailand
    Date
    circa 8th century
    Media category
    Sculpture
    Materials used
    copper alloy
    Dimensions
    10.0 x 3.5 x 1.7 cm; 10.3 x 3.5 x 1.7 cm object with stand
    Signature & date

    Not signed. Not dated.

    Credit
    D G Wilson Bequest Fund 2000
    Location
    Not on display
    Accession number
    4.2000
    Copyright

    Reproduction requests

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  • About

    The high headdress ('jatakamukuta') containing an image of the Buddha Amitabha identifies this figure as the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. Together with the long dhoti, with vertical folds in the middle and a cloth belt tied into a knot either side of the body, this denotes the influence of the Pallava school from Southern India. The piece is attributed to the Srivijaya culture, which dominated parts of Indonesia and Peninsula Thailand from the 600s to 1200s.

    The Asian Collections, AGNSW, 2003, pg.324.

  • Exhibition history

    Shown in 1 exhibition

    • Walking with gods, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 01 Jun 2019–05 Jan 2020

  • Bibliography

    Referenced in 1 publication

  • Provenance

    Alex Biancardi, pre Nov 1998, Sydney/New South Wales/Australia

    Danny Biancardi, Nov 1998-Feb 2000, Sydney/New South Wales/Australia, by descent. Purchased by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, 2000.