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The Buddhist Guardian Mahabala

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Buddhist Guardian Mahabala is a bronze sculpture depicting a standing figure. The figure has a large head with a high, pointed crown. The crown has a rounded shape at the top and has protrusions around it. The figure wears bracelets on both wrists and on one ankle. The figure is posed with one leg slightly bent and the other extended behind. The figure's arms are bent at the elbows, with hands positioned in front of the body and to the side. A decorative base supports the figure, featuring a flat bottom and raised edges. The base has a series of horizontal lines and small protrusions around it. The background of the image is gray, with a white surface on which the sculpture stands.

Artwork Details

Date
11th century
Medium
Bronze
Culture
Indonesia (Java)
Dimensions
500 × 625 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette