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Tomb Figurine

Asian Art

The form and iconography of these stamped and fired clay tablets are associated with the Eastern Indian Buddhist iconography at Nalanda. Produced for religious pilgrims as souvenirs, these miniature terra-cottas often depicted isolated divine figures in high relief, as here, or narrative scenes of Bodhisattvas (enlightened beings) surrounded by devotees. They may have functioned as reminders of holy images on the great stupas.

MEDIUM Pottery with slip and traces of pigment
  • Place Made: China
    • DATES 386–535
    DYNASTY Northern Wei Dynasty
    PERIOD Northern Wei Dynasty
    DIMENSIONS 14 9/16 in. (37 cm)
    COLLECTIONS Asian Art
    ACCESSION NUMBER 37.28
    CREDIT LINE By exchange
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    RECORD COMPLETENESS
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