architecture
- Museum number
- Franks.2540.a
- Description
-
Glazed architectural element with figure of the Buddha in relief. The front face of this trapezoidal architectural element is covered with a fugitive turquoise glaze. In the centre is an image of the Amitabha Buddha moulded in relief. He is shown in 'dhyanamudra' (the meditative pose), seated with crossed legs on a lotus throne, wearing aubergine-glazed robes, clasping a covered jar in both hands. Traces of the dark blue glaze of his headdress and white-glazed skin remain. At the top of the architectural element there is a rhomboid opening for attaching the next section.
- Production date
- 1450-1550 (circa)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 26.50 centimetres
-
Width: 20 centimetres
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Depth: 12.80 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- Harrison-Hall 2001:
This 'fahua' palette tile is not a roof ornament but it is likely that it would have joined to others showing images of Buddhist figures in different poses or mudra, possibly to complete an archway or wall. The tile was probably made for a Buddhist temple or shrine in north China, possibly in Shanxi province. The poor fit of glaze to body evokes 'fahua'-type wares made in Shanxi province.
Stylistically the figure portrayed here relates closely to a bronze figure of the Amitabha Buddha dated by inscription to 1459 in the British Museum. The treatment of the robe, tied in vertical pleats around the chest and falling into loose folds along the arms and legs, is remarkably similar. Making such sculptures in clay would have been considerably cheaper than casting in bronze. A temple or shrine festooned in such clay images would have had bronze images inside as well.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1909
- Department
- Asia
- Registration number
- Franks.2540.a
- Additional IDs
-
Miscellaneous number: 1909,0512.34
