Vasudhara ("Bearer of Gems")
date: label: Date
content: dated winter of 1082
notes: label: Description
content: Vasudhara, the Buddhist goddess of prosperity, holds symbols of wisdom and purpose in her six hands: a sheaf of grain, a vessel symbolizing long life, wish fulfilling jewels, and the Prajnaparamita Sutra, which signifies her advanced Buddhist wisdom. She cups her upper right hand to her ear, listening to herself sing prayers or powerful mantras. Adorned with small Buddhas, her unusual crown is typically reserved for priests knowledgeable in secret teachings.
label: Inscriptions
content: Inscription: Om, on Thursday, the third lunar day of the bright fortnight of the month of Phalguna of Nepal era 202 (Feb–March 1082), the couple Abonana and Maina donated this venerable Vasudhara.
label: Provenance
content: From 1964 to 2012
label: Provenance
content: Susanne K. Bennet (b. 1938), purchased in Old Delhi, Delhi, India. [1]
label: Provenance
content: From 2012
label: Provenance
content: Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of Susanne K. Bennet, Washington, DC [2]
label: Provenance
content: Notes:
label: Provenance
content: [1] Susanne K. Bennet purchased the bronze in Old Delhi in 1964. She and her husband were posted to Delhi between 1963 and 1967, with the United States Agency for International Development and then with the Department of State. See email from Mrs. Bennet dated August 22, 2012 to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery detailing the circumstances of the purchase, copy in object file, Collections Management. See also Acquisition Justification, object file, Collections Management Office.
label: Provenance
content: [2] See Acquisition Consideration Form, object file, Collections Management Office.
label: Collection
content: National Museum of Asian Art Collection
label: Exhibition History
content: The Art of Knowing in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Himalayas (March 25, 2023 - ongoing)
label: Exhibition History
content: Encountering the Buddha: Art and Practice Across Asia (October 14, 2017 to February 6, 2022)
label: Exhibition History
content: Devi: The Great Goddess (March 28 to September 6, 1999)
label: Exhibition History
content: Sculpture of South Asia and the Himalayas (May 4, 1988 to July 9, 2017)
label: Exhibition History
content: Nepal: Where the Gods are Young (1975)
label: Previous custodian or owner
content: Mrs. Susanne K. Bennet (born 1938)
place: label: Origin
content: Nepal
topic: label: Topic
content: casting
label: Topic
content: gilding
label: Topic
content: inlay (process)
label: Topic
content: metal
label: Topic
content: Buddhism
label: Topic
content: lotus
label: Topic
content: mantra
label: Topic
content: Nepal
label: Topic
content: Vasudhara
label: Topic
content: South Asian and Himalayan Art
label: Topic
content: goddess
setName: label: On View
content: East Building (Arthur M. Sackler Gallery), Gallery 22a: The Art of Knowing in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Himalayas
label: Related Online Resources
content: Google Arts & Culture
label: See more items in
content: Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Susanne K. Bennet in memory of Felicja "Lusia" Arendt (1928-1942?)
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
identifier: label: Accession Number
content: S2012.2
objectType: label: Type
content: Sculpture
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: CC0
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: Gilt copper, semi-precious stones, and traces of vermilion
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D: 20.9 x 16.1 x 14.9 cm (8 1/4 x 6 5/16 x 5 7/8 in)