The bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara

This figure comes from a group of remarkable Buddhist bronze sculptures found buried near a temple in northeastern Thailand in 1964. No one had suspected that workshops in that area might have been producing large bronze sculptures of such quality and technical assurance more than twelve hundred years ago. Their styles suggest that some of the sculptures were two centuries older than others, so the sculpture workshops in the area must have been in operation for an extended period. This one is thought to be the earliest on the basis of its square stance, somewhat severe facial features, sharp definition of the chest muscles, and hairdress of loosely looped braids.

Why the sculptures were buried together is not known, and there is little evidence about the ethnicity or language of the people who made them.

The figure can be identified as the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara by the small Buddha image at the front of the hairdress.

How Did This Sculpture Reach the Museum? The dozens of sculptures unearthed at Plai Bat Hill in 1964 were removed from Thailand soon after and were put on sale by major Western art dealers. The museum’s founding donor bought this one in 1964 or 1965.