Description

This elegantly proportioned and finely cast bronze chaitya (miniature stupa) was created for monastic or household devotion in the Kathmandu Valley. Dating from around the 17th century, the surface retains remains of original fire gilding and faint traces of red pigment that once enriched its appearance.

The chaitya rests on a square platform guarded at each corner by snub-nosed makaras with elaborately curled tails. Around the base, the intertwined bodies of four protective nagas encircle the shrine, symbolising the safeguarding of sacred relics and the cosmic balance between the earthly and spiritual realms.

The lower dome section is adorned with eight seated Buddhas in meditation, while the tiered spire above is festooned with delicate strands of “pearls” leading to a tall finial crowned by a flame-shaped jewel (usnisha), representing the enlightened mind of the Buddha.

This miniature stupa follows the architectural form of the great Swayambhunath Stupa and related monuments of the Kathmandu Valley. Comparable examples are preserved in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

The sculpture is cast in two sections — the dome lifts from the base — and the underside remains open, consistent with traditional Nepalese chaitya construction. The condition is excellent, with clear signs of age, oxidation, and original gilding.

References

• Hagmüller, G., Patan Museum: The Transformation of a Royal Palace in Nepal, Serindia Publications, 2003.

• Slusser, M. S., Patan Museum Guide, The Patan Museum, 2002.