Vajradhara Buddha Seated Holding a Thunderbolt (Vajra) and Bell (Ghanta)
15th century
Medium
Silver and semiprecious stones
Dimensions
16.5 × 10 × 7.6 cm (6 1/2 × 3 15/16 × 3 in.)
Classification
silver
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
148390
Art Historical Context
Behold the exquisite *Vajradhara Buddhaated Holding a Thunderbolt (Vaj) and Bell (Gh)*, a 15th-century sculpture adorned with semiprecious stones, just 16.5 cm tall at the Art Institute of Chicago Arts of Asia department.ed by an unknown artist, this intimate figure captures Vajradhara, the primordial in Vajrayana Buddhism, seated in a meditative posture symbolizing ultimate enlightenment and the union of wisdom and compassion. Vajradhara holds the vajra—a thunderbolt scepter representing indestructible spiritual power—in his right hand, and the ghanta bell in his left, evoking the harmonious...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...