Votive tablet, or phra phim, depicting the Buddha's first sermon at Sarnath

Object Details

• Description

  In frame, with yellow silk mat. The lower register of this votive tablet depicts the Buddha delivering his first sermon at Sarnath. Flanked by Indra (in royal attire and holding a vajra) to his right, and Brahma (dressed as an ascetic and holding a vase) to his left, the Buddha rests on a throne performing the vitarkamudra, a gesture Pattaraton notes is typical of Dvaravati tablets. The Buddha is seated in Pralambapadasana, the European sitting posture, with his feet resting on a double lotus. Below the pedestal, two deer face inward toward a dharmacakra, representing the Buddha setting the wheel of the dharma in motion through his teachings at Deer Park in Sarnath.

• Provenance

  From at least 1973 to 2005

  Mr. and Mrs. Osborne and Gratia Hauge [1]

  From 2005

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Victor Hauge in 2005 [2]

  Notes:

  [1] Object file.

  Acquired while Mr. and Mrs. Osborne and Gratia Hauge were living in Bangkok (1967-1972 or 1973).

  Major sources of acquisitions during this time were dealers in Bangkok, the weekend market in Bangkok, and vendors in Ayutthaya.

  [2] Ownership of collected objects sometimes changed between the Hauge families.

  According to Taka Hauge, the sources of the stucco heads and related works were the dealers Chai Ma and Peng Seng:

  Chai Ma Antiques, 799-801 Silom Road, Bangkok 5, tel. 2364-390, 2364-408

  Peng Seng, 942/1-3 Rama IV Road (corner of Suriwongse Road), Bangkok 10500

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Previous custodian or owner

  Victor and Takako Hauge ((1919-2013) and (1923-2015))

• Origin

  Nakhon Sawan province, Central Thailand

• Credit Line

  Gift of Osborne and Gratia Hauge, and Victor and Takako Hauge

• Type

  Ceremonial Object

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  600s, 700s

• Name

  Hauge, Victor and Takako, buddha

• Place

  Nakhon Sawan province, Thailand

• Topic

  Art, Dvaravati period (ca. 500 - 900), Dharmacakra, Hauge collection, Indra, Vajra, Southeast Asian Art, Ceramics, Brahma? (Hindu deity), Lotus, Ascetic

• Culture

  Buddhists, Southeast Asians

• Object Type

  Ceremonial objects