India
ROOMS – 9 | 10 | 11
Imperial patronage of Buddhism in India has a distinguished history between the 3rd century BC and the 12th century AD. During this period, magnificent Buddhist monasteries and stupas were built. Emperor Ashoka’s (ruled about 268–232 BC) of the Maurya dynasty, an early patron of Buddhism was famed by his rock and pillar edicts, the earliest monumental inscriptions of South Asia.
Following the physical death and cremation of the Buddha, his relics were transported across northern India and stupas (hemispherical monuments enshrining relics) were built to house them, which became important places of veneration and pilgrimage (probably at the end of the 4th century BC).
Box and cover (Pandan)
Gold, enamels Jaipur, India 19th c. Inv. CFC.21
Cabinet
Rosewood, ivory, silver Gujarat, India or Sindh, Pakistan Mughal period, ca. 1670
Celestial beauty (Surasundari)
Sandstone Central India 11th c. Inv. SCML.CA-CFC.1111
Covered bowl and dish
Rock crystal, white sapphires, rubies and emeralds, gold Northern India 19th c. Inv. CFC.23.1.2
Dagger
Steel, mother-of-pearl, brass India, 16th–17th c. Inv.CA-CFC.882
Dagger
Steel, rock crystal India 17th c. (late) Inv. CFC.19
Figure of Buddha
Schist Gandhara, Afghanistan or Pakistan 1st–3rd c. SCML.CA-CFC.0437
Figure of Buddha
Stucco, pigments Gandhara, Afghanistan or Pakistan 3rd–4th c. SCML.CA-CFC.0438
Head of a Bodhisattva or Jina
Stone Northern India, Mathura Gupta period, 4th c. Inv. SCML.CA-CFC.1134
Hookah base
Metal alloy, silver, bidri technique Bidar, Deccan, India 18th c.(mid) Inv. CA-CFC.1110
Jainist Legends (Kalpasutra)
Manuscript illustrated, 17 leaves Gouache, paper India, 16th c. Inv. CA-CFC.895
Lattice window screen (jali)
Red sandstone Mughal period, 18th c. Inv. CA-CFC.1108
Lilies and clouds
Three architectural panels Red sandstone Delhi or Agra, India Mughal period, 17th c. (late) Inv. CA-CFC.1107.1.2.3
Lota with avatars of Vishnu
Brass, copper engraved Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 18th c. Inv. CFC.22
Nobleman in Durbar
Opaque watercolour, paper Marwar (Jodhpur), Rajasthan, India 18th c. (last quarter) Inv. CFC.24
Palampore
Cotton, block-printed, mordants For European and Indonesian markets Coromandel coast, India 1830–1840 Inv. CA-CFC.1095
Palampore
Cotton, block-printed, mordants For Persian and Indonesian markets Masulipatnam, Coromandel coast, India 19th c. (1st quarter) Inv. CA-CFC.1098
Patola
Silk, double ikat technique For the Indonesian market Gujarat, India 19th c. Inv. CA-CFC.1096
Stele – events from Buddha’s life
Stone Eastern India Pala dynasty, 11th c. Inv. CFC.0002
Temple guardian (Dvarapala)
Wood, pigments Kerala, 17th c. CFC.0117
Textile
Cotton, block-printed, mordants For the Indonesian market Coromandel coast, India 18th c. Inv. CA-CFC.1099
Textile with hunting scene
Cotton, block-printed, mordants, pigments For the Indonesian market Gujarat, India 17th/18th c. Inv. CA-CFC.1093
The Abduction of Usha (Usha Ikha Purana)
Book of verse Ink, opaque watercolour, gold, silver, paper 108 illustrations Gujarat, India, 1757 Inv. CA-CFC.896
Tile
Pottery, glazed, cuerda seca Probably Lahore, India Mughal period, 17th century Inv. CFC.27
Vaishnavite silk
Silk lampas Assam, 17th/18th c. Inv. CA-CFC.1094
Vishnu stele
Stone Pala dynasty, 11th–12th c. SCML.CA-CFC.0439
Waist sash (Patka)
Glazed cotton, spangles, silver-gilt strips Bikaner, India Mughal period, 18th c. (2nd half) Inv. CA-CFC.1092
