Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Relief with Woman and Tree Motif
(India, Nepal, and Tibet)
This carving was most likely was part of a railing (Vedika) that enclosed a sacred tree, a stupa mound, or some other monument. The pose of this voluptuous figure with an elaborate girdle and jewelry reflects the ancient South Asian belief in nature spirits. Known as yakshis, these auspicious female nature spirits symbolize fertility and abundance and are represented in Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain art. Her hand raised to touch the leaves of the tree behind her is tied to the traditional belief that a youthful woman’s mere touch would cause a tree to blossom.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Dikran Kelekian, New York and Paris [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1926 [mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Conservation
| Date | Description | Narrative |
|---|---|---|
| 6/29/1972 | Treatment | cleaned |
| 11/29/1990 | Treatment | cleaned |
Geographies
India, Mathura (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 29 5/16 × W: 7 3/8 × D: 5 7/8 in. (74.5 × 18.8 × 15 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters, 1926
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.
25.30