Votive Plaque
Unknown Artist
ca. 8th century or later
Medium
Clay
Dimensions
1 5/8 x 1 1/2 in. (4.1 x 3.8 cm)
Classification
Sculpture
Culture
Tibet
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Fletcher Fund, 1938
Accession Number
38.80.10
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian collection, this delicate *Votive Plaque* Tibet, crafted by an unknown artist around the 8th century later, exemplifies the intimate scale of ancient devotion. Measuring just 1⅝ × 1½ inches (4.1 × 3.8 cm), this clay sculpture is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand—reminiscent of a coin—yet it carries profound cultural weight. Acquired through the Fletcher Fund in 8, it invites us to ponder the everyday artistry of Tibetan spiritual life. In Tibetan Buddhist tradition, votive plaques like this one were molded from clay and often used a...