Collection record · Belief & ritual
Portable icon of Shakyamuni Buddha in the Earth-touching gesture
The collection record classifies this work as sculpture. It is dated late 1100s–early 1200s. Recorded culture or place: Cambodia, reign of Jayavarman 7th.
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A closer look at the details.
- Museum title
- Portable icon of Shakyamuni Buddha in the Earth-touching gesture
- Date
- late 1100s–early 1200s
- Culture / origin
- Cambodia, reign of Jayavarman 7th
- Materials and technique
- Bronze
- Dimensions
- Overall: 42 x 18.5 x 3 cm (16 9/16 x 7 5/16 x 1 3/16 in.)
- Artist / maker
- Not specified by the museum
- Museum
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Accession number
- 1964.93
FROM THE MUSEUM
In the museum’s words
The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.
The Buddha sits surrounded by a circle of flaming jewels and full-blown lotus petals. Two rearing serpents emblematic of the glory of the Khmer Empire emerge from either side of his lotus pedestal. The Buddha’s right hand points down in the earth-touching gesture, and his left hand holds a round object, probably a special rice offering that indicates the Buddha’s power to ensure ongoing prosperity of the land.
The branches of the pipal tree under which the Buddha reached enlightenment top the composition. Beneath his lotus pedestal, the earth goddess wrings the waters from her hair that wash away the army of Mara, the grimacing demons holding clubs and shields who flee to either side.
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Text and image sources
The Cleveland Museum of Art · Andrew R. and Martha Holden Jennings Fund · CC0
The summary is based on public collection data. Refer to the museum’s latest record for the title, date and attribution.
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