Buddhist Halo
Unknown Artist
8th–9th century
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
H. 6 in. (15.3 cm) ; W. 4 in. (10.2 cm)
Classification
Metalwork
Culture
Pakistan (Northwest Frontier Province, Swat Valley)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Eisenberg, 1983
Accession Number
1983.507.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the rugged Swat Valley of northwest Pakistan, this exquisite bronze *Buddhist Halo* to the 8th–9th century, a time when the region flourished as a vibrant hub ofayana Buddhism along ancient trade routes. Crafted by an unknown artist, the halo—measuring just 6 inches high and 4 inches wide—was likely part of a larger devotional sculpture, encircling the head of a Buddha or bodhisattva to symbolize enlightenment and divine radiance. Swat Valley, often called the "Switzerland of the East," was renowned for its rock-cut monasteries and stupas, preserving Gandharan artistic traditions th...