Reliquary in the Form of a Dagoba
12th-14th century
Asia: Sri Lanka
Not on View

This small reliquary in the form of a stupa, a dome-shaped structure erected as a Buddhist shrine, served both ritual and votive functions. A corporeal relic, such as a bone fragment or a tooth of a sacred figure, would be housed within the hollow dome. Once it contained a relic, the stupa became a focus of devotion. During ceremonies, monks placed stupas on the heads of devotees for a brief moment to bless them. Patrons also commissioned these objects as offerings to temples. Such devotional practices continue to this day.

Details

  • Title: Reliquary in the Form of a Dagoba
  • Date: 12th-14th century
  • Medium: Bronze
  • Dimensions: 5-1/4 x 2-7/8 in. (13.3 x 7.3 cm)
  • Credit Line: Norton Simon Museum, Gift of Michael Phillips and Juliana Maio
  • Accession Number: P.1999.11.09a,b
  • Copyright: © Norton Simon Museum

Object Information

The Universe: Creation, Constellations and the Cosmos

  • Norton Simon Museum, 2001-02-04 to 2001-06-04
  • Pal, Pratapaditya, Asian Art at the Norton Simon Museum, Volume 3: Art from Sri Lanka & Southeast Asia, 2004, no. 49 pp. 47, 59-60

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