Book Pointer
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Ivory
Dimensions
10 7/16 x 1 1/8 in. (26.5 x 2.9 cm)
Classification
Sculpture
Culture
Thailand
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Peter and Jean Marks, 1987
Accession Number
1987.420.6
Art Historical Context
This exquisite 19th-century ivory *Book Pointer* from Thailand now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art collection exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of Southeast Asian religious artifacts. Measuring 10 7/16 x 1 1/8 inches, this sculpture was designed for practical use in Buddhist temples. Monks employed it to indicate passages in fragile palm-leaf manuscripts during readings, preventing direct contact that could damage the sacred texts—a testament to the culture's deep reverence for scripture. Carved from ivory, a prized medium in Thai art for its creamy luster and carvability, t...