stupa;
model;
佛塔(Chinese);
stupa-finial
- Museum number
- MAS.706
- Description
-
Wooden model of a stupa, or stupa finial. The base is rectangular, followed by a straight part separated by ring mouldings. The object ends in five umbrella-shaped sections and a rounded top.
- Production date
- 3rdC-4thC
- Dimensions
-
Height: 51.50 centimetres
-
Width: 11.80 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- Zwalf 1985
This wooden ‘stūpa’ finial, unmistakably Buddhist, is among many architectural pieces found in ruined structures at the ancient site of Loulan near the dried-up salt lake of Lopnor. Documents on wood in Chinese and ‘Kharoṣṭhī’ script dated between AD 264 and 270 were found in the refuse of a Chinese administrative station near by (Loulan VI). Early in the 4th century the site and route across the desert through Loulan were abandoned. Relics like this ‘stūpa’ finial, and a beam carved with seated Buddhas, found by Sven Hedin, are therefore among the earliest surviving evidence for the spread of Buddhism into China.
- Location
- On display (G33/dc9b/s1)
- 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.706
- Additional IDs
-
Miscellaneous number: L.B.II.0033 (Stein no.)
