Provenance Information

Unknown prior to its publication in the 1990 auction sale catalogue for Hapsburg Feldman S.A. Geneva, Gold, important ancient and ethic jewellery and work of art in precious metals, sale catalogue, May 14, 1990, lot 96; Purchased from the Hapsburg Feldman sale in 1990 by Jonathan Rosen, New York; Collection of Jonathon Rosen, New York, 1990 to 2015; given by Mr. Rosen to The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2015

Exhibition Information

This object was on display in the Metropolitan Museum’s Southeast Asian Gallery since it was received as a loan from Jonathan Rosen in 2003 (L. 2003.25).

Publication Information

Hapsburg Feldman S.A. Geneva, Gold, important ancient and ethic jewellery and work of art in precious metals, sale catalogue, May 14, 1990, lot 96.

Section of the AAMD Guidelines relied upon for the exception to 1970

Gift or bequest expected or on loan prior to 2008

Explain why the object fits the exception set forth above

The work was published in 1990 in connection with its sale at public auction in Geneva. It was placed on loan to the Metropolitan Museum in 2003 and has been in display since then.
This object is exceedingly rare and despite the loss of lower arms, evidences the artistic and technical skill of goldsmiths of this period. The object adds a valuable dimension to the understanding of small-scale personal devotional imagery in the early Buddhist art in mainland Southeast Asia.