Bodhisattva Maitreya or Avalokiteshvara

Object Details

• Provenance

  1964

  Reportedly unearthed by two villagers near Prakhon Chai, Thailand [1]

  1964-1971

  Ownership information unknown

  Before 1971-?

  John and Emma Bunker, method of acquisition unknown [2]

  ?-1991

  Carter Burden (1941-1996), method of acquisition unknown [3]

  1991

  Sale, New York, Sotheby's, "Indian and Southeast Asian Art," March 27, 1991, lot 187 [4]

  1991-2004

  Unknown collector, purchased at Sotheby's sale [5]

  2004

  Sale, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Christie's, "Himalayan and Southeast Asian Art," October 12, 2004, lot 123 [6]

  2004-2008

  Unknown collector, purchased at Christie's sale [7]

  2008

  Sale, New York, Sotheby's, "Indian & Southeast Asian Works of Art," September 19, 2008, lot 291 [8]

  2008-2015

  Ann (Rasmussen) and Gilbert H. Kinney (1931-2020), purchased at Sotheby's sale [9]

  From 2015

  The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift Ann and Gilbert H. Kinney [10]

  Notes:

  [1] This sculpture is likely one of the thirty-four bronze works unearthed in 1964 by two villagers near Prakhon Chai in the southern part of modern-day Buriram province, Thailand. The sculpture has the characteristic stylistic features -- such as slender legs and ascetic matted hair -- seen in the other sculptures identified from the group. Scientific analysis of the metal showed a high tin content, which is also typical of bronzes from this area, thereby further suggesting the sculpture is part of the Prakhon Chai (or Prasat Hin Khao Plai Bat II) group.

  The sculptures were excavated in and around a pit running east to west along the inside of the outer south wall of the Prasat Hin Khao Plai Bat II temple precinct. At the time of the discovery the exact location of the site was unknown. In 1967 Boisselier published an article arguing that the bronzes were found in Prakhon Chai, a city situated 40 kilometers from the Prasat Hin Khao Plai Bat II temple. Before 2002 the group was known as "Prakhon Chai." See Emma C. Bunker, "The Prakhon Chai Story: Facts and Fiction," in Arts of Asia, vol. 2, no. 2 (2002) 122-124. The bronzes were hidden during a time of religious instability; their careful burial (some were wrapped in cloth) suggests that they were to be recovered at some later date. This sculpture was first identified as part of the group from Prakhon Chai in 1971 when published in Emma C. Bunker, "Pre-Angkor Period Bronzes from Pra Kon Chai" in "Archives of Asian Art" vol 25 (1971/1972), 73. This article discusses the group of pre-Angkor bronzes unearthed at Prakhon Chai, Thailand in 1964 and subsequently dispersed to public and private collections.

  [2] Emma Bunker published the sculpture with accompanying information that it was in "Mr. and Mrs. John Bunker Collection. See note 1. According to Ann Kinney's notes, Emma Bunker stated that she had owned the piece prior to 1971.

  [3] See note 4. Carter Burden was a collector, bibliophile, businessman, politician, publisher, founder of a broadcasting empire Commodore Media, and benefactor of the arts, including the New York Public Library, the Morgan Library, and the New York City Ballet, as well as the Burden Center for the Aging in Yorkville, which he established and helped finance.

  [4] See Sotheby's New York, "Indian and Southeast Asian Art" [auction catalogue] (March 27, 1991), lot 187. Carter Burden is listed as the owner.

  [5] See Christie's Amsterdam, "Himalayan and Southeast Asian Art," [auction catalogue] (October 12, 2004) lot 123. The owner is not listed.

  [6] See note 5.

  [7] See note 8.

  [8] Sotheby's New York, "Indian & Southeast Asian Works of Art," [auction catalogue] (September 19, 2008), lot 291. The owner is not listed.

  [9] Ann Kinney and Gilbert H. Kinney purchased this sculpture during the Sotheby's, New York auction on September 19, 2008. See object file.

  [10] See Acquisition Consideration Form, object file.

  Research completed on February 13, 2014.

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Exhibition History

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

  Art of the Gift: Recent Acquisitions (July 24 to December 13, 2015)

• Previous custodian or owner

  John B. Bunker and Emma C. Bunker

  Carter Burden

  Ann Kinney

  Gilbert H. Kinney (1931-2020)

• Origin

  Buriram province, Thailand

• Credit Line

  Gift of Ann and Gilbert Kinney

• Type

  Sculpture

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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  The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The National Museum of Asian Art welcomes information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  600s

• Name

  Burden, Carter, Bunker, John B., Kinney, Ann, Kinney, Gilbert H.

• Place

  Buriram province, Thailand

• Topic

  Art, Inlay (process), Dvaravati period (ca. 500 - 900), Maitreya Buddha, Southeast Asian Art, Avalokite?svara (Buddhist deity), Metal-work

• Culture

  Buddhists, Southeast Asians

• Object Type

  Sculpture