GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Plaques like this one form architectural decorations in Buddhist temples or are used in domestic shrines. They are created by Newari craftspeople, who are especially skilled metalworkers. In the center of the bejeweled plaque is Manjushri, the Buddhist god of wisdom, who wields the sword of enlightenment against ignorance. His wise is face delicately carved from red coral; he stands on a lotus throne. To his right, carved in ivory is the elephant-headed Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, who was adopted from Hinduism into Himalayan Buddhism. To his left is Mahakala, a wrathful deity whose name means "The Great Black One," a being who defends the Buddhist dharma and drives away evil. Over the triad of deities are vidyadharas, heavenly flying bearers of knowledge. The rich creation of the ritual scene by the subtle use of inlaid stones is a good example of Newari art.
Adapted from
- Anne Bromberg, Label text.
- Anne Bromberg, "Jeweled plaque" in The Arts of India, South East Asia, and the Himalayas, Anne R. Bromberg (Dallas: Dallas Museum of Art; New Haven: Yale University Press, 2013), 200.
NOTES
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Geography
Nepal: TGN: 1000132
Process/materials
bronze: AAT: 300010957
carving (processes): AAT: 300053149
copper (metal): AAT: 300011020
coral (material): AAT: 300011800
filigree: AAT: 300220293
garnet (mineral): AAT: 300011097
gemstone: AAT: 300201964
gold (metal): AAT: 300011021
ivory (material): AAT: 300011857
metalwork: AAT: 300015336
mother of pearl: AAT: 300011835
openwork: AAT: 300253899
silver (metal): AAT: 300011029
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
architectural ornament: AAT: 300378995
Buddhism: AAT: 300073738
devotional objects: AAT: 300234144
figures (representations): AAT: 300189808
scrollwork (patterns): AAT: 300010205
shrines (religious / ceremonial structures): AAT: 300007558
sword: AAT: 300037048
Temples: AAT: 300007595
turquoise (mineral): AAT: 300011164
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
AUDIO ASSETS
264294996: UMO
Anne Bromberg, gallery talk, Art and the Silk Road
VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
WEB RESOURCES
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
Apply to objects where number equals 2017.35.1
Category
rules_operator
AND
General Description
Plaques like this one form architectural decorations in Buddhist temples or are used in domestic shrines. They are created by Newari craftspeople, who are especially skilled metalworkers. In the center of the bejeweled plaque is Manjushri, the Buddhist god of wisdom, who wields the sword of enlightenment against ignorance. His wise is face delicately carved from red coral; he stands on a lotus throne. To his right, carved in ivory is the elephant-headed Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, who was adopted from Hinduism into Himalayan Buddhism. To his left is Mahakala, a wrathful deity whose name means "The Great Black One," a being who defends the Buddhist dharma and drives away evil. Over the triad of deities are vidyadharas, heavenly flying bearers of knowledge. The rich creation of the ritual scene by the subtle use of inlaid stones is a good example of Newari art.
Adapted from
- Anne Bromberg, Label text.
- Anne Bromberg, "Jeweled plaque" in The Arts of India, South East Asia, and the Himalayas, Anne R. Bromberg (Dallas: Dallas Museum of Art; New Haven: Yale University Press, 2013), 200.
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Geography
Nepal: TGN: 1000132
Process/materials
bronze: AAT: 300010957
carving (processes): AAT: 300053149
copper (metal): AAT: 300011020
coral (material): AAT: 300011800
filigree: AAT: 300220293
garnet (mineral): AAT: 300011097
gemstone: AAT: 300201964
gold (metal): AAT: 300011021
ivory (material): AAT: 300011857
metalwork: AAT: 300015336
mother of pearl: AAT: 300011835
openwork: AAT: 300253899
silver (metal): AAT: 300011029
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
architectural ornament: AAT: 300378995
Buddhism: AAT: 300073738
devotional objects: AAT: 300234144
figures (representations): AAT: 300189808
scrollwork (patterns): AAT: 300010205
shrines (religious / ceremonial structures): AAT: 300007558
sword: AAT: 300037048
Temples: AAT: 300007595
turquoise (mineral): AAT: 300011164
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
AUDIO ASSETS
264294996: UMO
Anne Bromberg, gallery talk, Art and the Silk Road
VIDEO ASSETS
rules
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
2017.35.1
source file
object_notes_1_d-0121.xml.nores