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Sealing with Enthroned Buddha Calling the Earth to Witness

Central Myanmar

8th century

Not on view

Making these multiple clay impressions, pressed by hand from a metal or fired-clay matrix, was a simple and inexpensive means by which Buddhist devotees could accrue religious merit. A number of Myanmar Buddhist moldings bear inscriptions on the reverse including the donor’s name. Some add that the icon was made “with my own hands, for the sake of deliverance”; in one instance, the donor is identified as a queen. One sutra compares writing the dharma verses and installing them in a stupa to “doing homage by offering up a rare jewel.”

cat. no. 54

Sealing with Enthroned Buddha Calling the Earth to Witness, Fired clay, Central Myanmar — Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Title: Sealing with Enthroned Buddha Calling the Earth to Witness

Date: 8th century

Culture: Central Myanmar

Medium: Fired clay

Dimensions: H. 6 11/16 in. (17 cm); W. 6 1/8 in. (15.5 cm); D. 1 9/16 in. (4 cm)

Classification: Sculpture

Credit Line: Lent by Thiri Khittaya (Śrī Ksetra) Archaeological Museum, Hmawza, Myanmar (2001/2/63)

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