figure;
畫像(Chinese)
- Museum number
- MAS.1082
- Description
-
Stucco head of a male figure. This is probably the representation of a Bodhisattva, with an elaborate hairstyle and the remains of a headdress still visible. The long hair that falls over the forehead in short curls and hangs in long wavy tresses on the shoulders. The head was made using a mould but the curls of hair were moulded and applied separately. Traces of a white slip are still visible.
- Production date
- 7thC-8thC
- Dimensions
-
Height: 20.50 centimetres
- Curator's comments
-
English
From Whitfield 1985:
Shrine xv of the Ming-oi shrines was “a plain cella about 12 feet square” and, like the other shrines, had suffered damage by fire; but in it Stein discovered both some fine pieces of wood carving (Pls. 114-15) and, among other examples of stucco reliefs, this large and beautiful Bodhisattva head. Like the small heads from Shrine xi, it has lost all trace of the original colouring in the fire that hardened it, but this has in no way impaired the fine modelling of the features and the cascading locks of hair. Seen next to the much smaller standing figures of devatas and similar pieces from the other shrines, the very scale of this head gives an idea of the size and richness of the whole ensemble, which must have included life-size or larger Buddha and Bodhisattva figures, as well as closely packed smaller figures.
In style and expression the head is close to the classical sculpture of Gandhara; in particular the half-closed eyes, like those of the Foucher Bodhisattva in the Musee Guimet, suggest meditation, and all of the other features are calm and regular.
-
Chinese
From Whitfield 1985:
明屋遺迹之xv寺址是“邊長4米的簡單正方形内殿”，和其他佛寺一樣，遭受過火災的損壞，然而斯坦因從這裏發現過幾件較好的木雕作品（圖114、115）和泥浮雕，這個大而精美的菩薩頭部與xi寺址發現的小頭像相同，由於火災變得堅硬，而且完全失去了當初的色彩，但像的裝飾和波浪形下垂的頭髮等沒有受損。從其他寺址中得到的天部像等小型立像，可大致想象出此頭部的像的大小和整體形態，那無疑是與真人等身或更大的佛、菩薩像，以及還有衆多小像。
此菩薩頭部的風格和形態與犍陀羅雕刻風格接近，特別是半睜的眼睛，與集美美術館收藏的Foucher出土的菩薩像非常相似，樣子像是在冥想，表情極安祥。
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1917
- Acquisition notes
- The 1917-11-28 group (with MAS numbering) refers to objects from Stein's Second Central Asian Expedition, 1906-08. As the expedition was financed 3/ 5 by the Government of India and 2/5 by the British Museum, it was agreed that the finds from the expedition should be allocated in these proportions. All the finds were shipped to London for sorting, research and publication, and subsequent distribution. The distribution of the finds between London and India was determined by specialists, appointed by the Government of India (through the India Office, London) and the British Museum, who drew up lists of the objects for approval by both sides. The specialists included: Raphael Petrucci, under supervision of Dr E Denison Ross (nominated by India Office) and Laurence Binyon (British Museum) on paintings; Dr F W Thomas, Dr E Denison Ross (both nominated by India Office) and Dr L D Barnett (British Museum) on manuscripts and written documents; Dr E Denison Ross (nominated by India Office) and Laurence Binyon (British Museum) on archaeological/other finds. Although the lists were drawn up and approved in 1915, the Government of India asked the British Museum to look after the entire collection during the First World War, and those allocated to India were eventually shipped in 1919.
- Department
- Asia
- Registration number
- MAS.1082
- Additional IDs
-
Miscellaneous number: Mi.xv.0010 (Stein no.)
