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Title

Buckle

Dating

4th century C.E.

Accession Number

O25037

Dimensions

Height: 3.6cm / 1 3/4"
Width: 4.4cm / 1 3/8"

Culture

Kuşänşähr (Kushan)

Collection

The Victoria and Albert Museum

Materials

Gold

Object Type

Jewelry

The Victoria and Albert Museum states that this "repousse plaque was formed by hammering over a die, then neatly joined with solder to a plain backing sheet. The cracked and damaged back has two attached tangs and is partly repaired in one corner. On the front, within a beaded, rectangular frame, a man and woman are seated on a throne in the royal lalitasana pose, with their torsos facing forwards and their heads slightly turned towards each other. Their features are now worn and not easily distinguishable, but appear to have been depicted with round faces and wide-open eyes. A halo indicates the divine status of each figure, while the floating ribbon issuing from behind the male head has royal connotations and resembles the Ssniyn form also found on coins of the Kuşn-Ssniyn rulers.


The man is adorned with a torque, bangles and armlets, and is dressed in the same way as Kubéra (कुबेर) or Pɲçika (पाञ्चिक) figures on schist reliefs in knee-length Kuşn boots, a short-sleeved tunic and a Greek chlamys, fastened with a circular fibula on his thigh. His left hand, with the little finger extended, holds a long staff between the index and middle finger.

The long dress of the woman is draped over her right calf so that the foot remains visible, and then falls in a series of folds to completely cover her left leg. She wears large earrings, bangles and armlets. Her crown of juxtaposed half-lotus flowers resembles those worn by Bodhisattva of the fouth century AD and later at Hadda. In her right hand she holds a long stemmed lotus and in her left a cornucopia. The couple is clearly recognisable as Hritı́ (हारिती) and Pɲçika or Kubéra, the god of wealth."


The figure assumed to be Hairiti could also be Şrı́ (श्री) or Lakşmi (लक्ष्मी)



Image Source

Copyright Status

Public Domain: Non-creative photograph of a two-dimensional work of art in the Public Domain, The Victoria and Albert Museum

Nonetheless, used here in an educational capacity and in accordance with the VAM's policies - This image was downloaded and uploaded on 06/19/2023.

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