Buddha
(China )
Carved from twelve joined pieces of wood, covered with five layers of lacquer, and then painted, this sculpture is the oldest, known surviving Chinese example of its type. In the form of Buddhism that flourished during this period of China's history, the historical Buddha Sakyamuni was one among many Enlightened Ones. He was seen to preside over this earthly realm while Buddhas enlightened in other realms preside over paradises or stood for abstract concepts and cosmological constructions. This sculpture probably depicts Amitabha, the Buddha who presides over the Western Paradise - a place where Buddhists of the period hoped to be reborn.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.
Yamanaka & Co., New York; puchased by Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1920; by bequest to Walters Art Museum, 1931.
Exhibitions
2018-2019 | The Return of the Buddha. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. |
2017-2018 | Secrets of the Lacquer Buddha. Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Washington. |
Conservation
Date | Description | Narrative |
---|---|---|
3/31/1938 | Treatment | coated |
4/20/1990 | Treatment | technical study; cleaned |
Geographies
China (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 41 3/8 x W: 28 3/4 x D: 21 11/16 in. (105.1 x 73.1 x 55.1 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters, 1920
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
25.9