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Buddha Shakyamuni
Nepal; 13th century
Gilt copper alloy with inlay
Rubin Museum of Art
C2006.24.1 (HAR 65687)

Cast in the Khasa Malla kingdom of the western Himalayas, this sculpture is a superb example of Newar artistry without elaborate embellishments. Here we see a clear adaptation of the Kathmandu Valley style in the modeling and proportions of the figure and the treatment of the face, with a beak-like nose, downcast eyes, and pinched chin. The historical Buddha is exhibited here seated in meditation posture (vajrasana); one hand rests in the lap and the other in a gesture that calls the earth to witness his great resolve. He wears earrings inlaid with turquoise—an adornment not usually seen in depictions of the Buddha yet commonly found in Khasa Malla sculptures representing him.


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