Cloisonne stupa with gilt ornaments

Object Details

• Artist

  Imperial workshop

• Description

  A cloisonne stupa with hollow, uncovered, tiered base; rising from the swelling body of the stupa is a tall spire consisting of thirteen rings telescoping in size from large to small in an upward direction, and surmounted by a gilt, gourd-shaped ornamen. A gilt metal staircase leads to the the main body of the stupa that houses within an empty, lotus-decorated enamel throne within a small opening. A gilt bat frames the top of the opening and gilt lion-head ornaments appear at the sides of the stupa. A lotus scroll pattern interspersed with the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism decorates the surface. The background color of the cloisonne is turquoise with many other colors used in the design; some cells have two or more colors.

• Label

  This cloisonné stupa was made during the reign of the Qianlong emperor (r. 1735-96), who was a follower of Tibetan Buddhism. Its unusual elaborateness, including the multi-tiered base and stairs that recall imperial architecture, suggest this was commissioned at the Qing court. It is hollow and was originally probably filled with prayer slips, and would have been created as an altar furnishing or offering to a Lamist Buddhist temple. The spire has thirteen rings that represent parasols--symbols of honor--and also allude to the stages along the path to Enlightenment. The stupa is decorated with the Eight Auspicious Buddhist Symbols and lotus scrolls. Some imagery incorporates popular Chinese lore, such as the gilt bat that appears above the aperture, inside of which a small throne represents the presence of the Buddha. In China, bats are a symbol of good fortune, but here it is rendered with "feathery" wings to simultaneously recall the Buddhist guardian figure of a garuda, a bird-like creature.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Looking Out, Looking In: Art in Late Imperial China (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)

  Encountering the Buddha: Art and Practice Across Asia (October 14, 2017 to February 6, 2022)

  Lama, Patron, Artist: The Great Situ Panchen (March 13 to July 18, 2010)

  Buddhist Art (May 9, 1993 to August 9, 2011)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Ceremonial Object

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1790s, 1730s

• Name

  Imperial workshop

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Bats, Art, Chinese Art, Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911), Cloisonné, Lotus, Qianlong reign (1736 - 1796), Stupa

• Culture

  Buddhists, Chinese

• Object Type

  Ceremonial objects