Seated Buddha
Unknown Artist
ca. 7th–8th century
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
H. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm)
Classification
Sculpture
Culture
Pakistan
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Samuel Eilenberg Collection, Gift of Samuel Eilenberg, 1987
Accession Number
1987.142.342
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite Seated Buddha, crafted in bronze around the 7th–8th century in Pakistan's Swat Valley, stands just 3¼ inches tall, inviting close contemplation. From the ancient Gandhara region—a cultural crossroads of Indian, Persian, and Hellenistic influences—this small sculpture exemplifies the region's mastery of Buddhist devotional art. Swat Valley, a thriving hub of early Mahayana Buddhism, produced countless such icons for personal meditation or temple worship, reflecting the faith's spread along Silk Road trade routes. The figure's serene, meditative pose in the lotus position, with h...