Figure
Category
Art / Sculpture
Date
Unknown
Materials
Bronze, Mineral
Measurements
190 x 130 mm
Order this imageCollection
Bateman's, East Sussex
NT 760606
Summary
16th - 17th century seated figure of the Buddha from Tibet. This gilt bronze statue depicts the Buddha at the moment of his enlightenment, touching the earth as witness to his spiritual achievement. The statue may have been gifted to Kipling by his friend and fellow writer, Perceval Landon (1869–1927). Landon travelled widely in the Himalayas and joined the first British expedition to Tibet (1903–04) as a journalist for The Times. Landon was one of the most regular guests to Bateman’s and lived at a cottage owned by the Kiplings nearby, which Kipling nicknamed ‘The Potala’ in reference to Tibet’s Potala Palace.