Accession Number
1978/2.97

Title
Bodhisattva Amoghapasa (Avalokitesvara of the never-empty noose)

Artist(s)
Artist Unknown

Object Creation Date
n.d.

Medium & Support
bronze

Dimensions
6 5/8 in. x 3 3/4 in. x 2 in. ( 16.8 cm x 9.5 cm x 5.1 cm )

Credit Line
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Leo S. Figiel and Dr. and Mrs. Steven J. Figiel

Subject matter
A small statue of the Bodhisattva Amoghapasa, a form of the popular Buddhist deity Avalokitesvara, worshipped most commonly in Buddhist Nepal and Japan. His name means "of the never-empty noose," and his key attribute is a lasso, used to resuce lost souls. Amoghapasa is shown as a bodhisattva (a "wisdom being," with long hair, jewelry, and wearing a dhoti, and with eight arms.

Physical Description
A small bronze figure of Amoghapasa, a Buddhist deity, made by the cire perdue (lost wax) casting method. The challenge to the caster is this case is the top-heaviness of the piece caused by the iconographical requirement for the image to have eight arms; in at attempt to provide some support, he arranging floating scarves to drape all the way to the lotus pedestal.

Primary Object Classification
Sculpture

Primary Object Type
casting

Additional Object Classification(s)
Metalwork

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
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Keywords
Buddhism
Himalayan
Vajrayana
bodhisattva
lotus (motif)
miniature (size attribute)