drum-slab

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Object Type
Museum number: 1880,0709.79
Description: Drum-slab (two-sided), carved in pale limestone. 1. Back: Relief of the Bodhi tree and an empty dias with Buddhapada on the step, flying celestials above and kneeling worshippers on each side. 2. Front: Relief depicting a stūpa with a figure of the Buddha standing at the entrance; about the dome of the stūpa flying celestials, some playing instruments. On the dome are relief panels depicting the Gift of Sujātā, the Conversion of Nanda, the First Sermon, the Great Departure, the Birth of the Buddha and Māyā's Dream.
Production date: 1stC BC (obverse face); 3rdC (reverse face)
Production place: Made in: Amaravati, Buddhist stupa
Findspot: Found/Acquired: Amaravati
Materials
Technique
Dimensions: Height: 124.37 centimetres; Thickness: 12.50 centimetres; Width: 86.25 centimetres
$Inscriptions
Curator's comments: Bibliography: Alexander Cunningham, 'Appendix E (in James Ferguson's Tree and Serpent Worship - inscriptions taken from the sculpted reliefs at Amaravati)' London 1873, XCIX, fig. viii.
Bibliographic references: Fergusson 1873 / Tree and Serpent Worship (LXXVIII, 2 (back)) (and front (3)); Barrett 1954 / Sculptures from Amaravati in the British Museum (15) (back); Rosen 1985 / A Dated Memorial Pillar from Nagarjunikonda (36, pl. 42 & 43); NHK 1991 / Daiei Hakubutsukan 4: Indo, bukkyo bijutsu no kaika (46); Knox 1992 / Amaravati: Buddhist sculpture from the Great Stupa (60) (back); Pemberton 2002 / The Buddha (page 15.)
Location: Not on display
Subjects: buddha; devotee/worshipper; great renunciation/great departure
Associated names: Representation of: Buddha; Representation of: Bodhi Tree
Associated places: Used in: Amaravati
Associated events: Associated Event: Enlightenment of the Buddha (obverse face); Associated Event: Gift of Grain by Sujata (reverse face); Associated Event: Conversion of Nanda (obverse face); Associated Event: First Sermon of the Buddha (obverse face); Associated Event: Dream of Queen Maya (obverse face); Associated Event: Birth of Buddha (obverse face)
Acquisition name
Previous owner
Acquisition date: 1880
Acquisition notes: From the Mackenzie Collection. Acquired as the result of the abolition in 1879 of the India Museum (Exhibition Road, London) and the partition of its contents between the British Museum and The South Kensington Museum (Victoria and Albert Museum).
Department: Asia
Registration number: 1880,0709.79
Additional IDs: Miscellaneous number: IM 1876 no 75
Conservation: Treatment: 01 Nov 2017; Treatment: 16.10.1992

Free entry

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