ticketsMember | Make a donation

Buddha Preaching

8th–early 9th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 247
This sculpture is a refined, elegant expression of the Mon aesthetic during the late phase of Buddhist art associated with the Dvaravati kingdom. It is not clear if that political entity was still viable during this period, but the distinct aesthetic created by its sculptors in the preceding two centuries still prevailed. The raised right hand gestures in teaching, the lowered hand grants boons. The image was cast from a silver alloy with a significant copper content and would have displayed a lustrous silver surface in its original state.

cat. no. 120

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Buddha Preaching
  • Period: Mon-Dvaravati period
  • Date: 8th–early 9th century
  • Culture: Central or northeastern Thailand
  • Medium: Silver alloy
  • Dimensions: H. 15 1/2 in. (39.4 cm); W. 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm); D. 3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm)
  • Classification: Sculpture
  • Credit Line: Gift of Enid A. Haupt, 1993
  • Object Number: 1993.387.6
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Vajradharma Lokeshvara, Bronze with silver inlay, Pakistan (NW Frontier Province, probably Swat Valley)
Vajradharma Lokeshvara
Pakistan (NW Frontier Province, probably Swat Valley)
9th century
Bodhisattva Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future, Bronze inlaid with silver, India (Jammu and Kashmir) or Pakistan (Swat Valley)
Bodhisattva Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future
India (Jammu and Kashmir) or Pakistan (Swat Valley)
7th century
Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, Copper alloy inlaid with silver and glass or obsidian, Plai Bat II Temple, Lahan Sai District, Buriram Province, Thailand
Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara
Plai Bat II Temple, Lahan Sai District, Buriram Province, Thailand
second quarter of the 8th century
Enthroned Buddha Granting Boons, Gilt brass with silver and copper inlay, Pakistan (Gilgit Kingdom)
Enthroned Buddha Granting Boons
Pakistan (Gilgit Kingdom)
dated by inscription to ca. 600
Head of Shiva (lingakosha), Gold and silver repoussé, Vietnam (Champa, probably Quang Nam Province)
Head of Shiva (lingakosha)
Vietnam (Champa, probably Quang Nam Province)
late 9th–10th century

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.