logo
Open today 10 am – 5 pm

Statuette

Object Number:A1438A
Current Location: Collections Storage
Culture:Tibetan
Buddhist
Provenience: Tibet
Date Made: 17th - 18th century
Early Date: 1600
Late Date: 1799
Section:Asian
Materials:Gilt
Iconography:Dogar
Sitatapatra
Credit Line:Purchased from George Lagai, Kny-Sheerer & Company, 1913
Other Number:Getz 141 - Other Number
#6 - Other Number

Description

This gilded bronze statuette of the goddess Sitatapatra is a powerful image combining both considerable detail with a simple, geometric vision of forms. The goddess is shown having a thousand heads, arms, and legs, and stands on a base decorated with double rows of lotus petals. Schematically represented, the multiplication of her heads is embodied in a cone-like headdress; while her thousand arms form a halo around her body. She wears a long garment with an elaborate jeweled belt, which was originally set with semi-precious stones. Her hands in front are frozen in a ritualized gesture (mudra). She stands astride three mountains, her many feet crushing down upon vast legions of people and animals.This sculpture, like many Tibetan images, embodies an esoteric doctrine in the organization of its formal elements that was perceived and understood only by the initiated believer. Inside the image were both a columnar staff (A1438A) and a prayer scroll (A1438C). Such deposits are not uncommon and were intended to endow the image with divine power.

Current & Past Exhibitions:

Exhibition of Oriental Art (12 Feb 1916) View Objects in Exhibition
Southeast Asian Gallery ( Sep 1992 - Jul 1997) View Objects in Exhibition
Southeast Asian Gallery (1987 - 1992) View Objects in Exhibition

Bibliography:

[Book] Horne, Lee C. 1985. Introduction to the Collections of The University Museum.. Philadelphia. The University Museum. Actual Citation : Page/Fig./Plate: Pg. 57, Fig. 6View Objects related to this Actual Citation
[Catalogue] Getz, John. 1916. The University Museum Exhibition of Oriental Art.. Philadelphia. The University Museum. Actual Citation : Page/Fig./Plate: pg. 223-4, No. 141View Objects related to this Actual Citation

You may also be interested in these objects:


Report problems and issues to digitalmedia@pennmuseum.org.