Seated Maitreya in lalitasana pose

Object Details

• Description

  Seated Maitreya. Seated in the "lalitasana" pose with the left hand raised to hold a lotus bud, and the right resting on the knee. The torso, with swelling shoulders and narrow waist, is bare except for a heavy, pearled collar and a scarf pulled tightly around the upper arms. The design of the crown which fits over the high chignon is unclear. The skirt hangs over the top of an octagonal, 3-part lotus throne; right foot rests on a small separate lotus. The attached leaf-shaped halo bends forward as it rises. The front is engraved with vestigal flame lines outside the lotus center. On the rear of the halo is an inscription that is difficult to read becaues of corrosion.

• Provenance

  To 1911

  Morita, Nara, to 1911 [1]

  From 1911 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Morita in 1911 [2]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See Reserved Bronze List, R. 5193, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Previous custodian or owner

  Morita (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Sculpture

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  900s, 800s

• Name

  Morita, Freer, Charles Lang

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Gilding, Bronze, Charles Lang Freer collection, Art, Sculpture, Maitreya Buddha, Chinese Art, Tang dynasty (618 - 907), Lotus, Lettering, Metal-work

• Culture

  Buddhists, Chinese

• Object Type

  Sculpture