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Altar piece, one of an altar set of the Eight Buddhist Emblems (ba ji xiang). Depicts the Victory Banner mounted on a lotus pedestal, constructed in two detachable parts. The lotus pedestal consists of a platform surrounded by multi-tiered overlapping lotus petals, raised on a tall stem embellished with four foliate scrolls, set atop a domed embellished base with sea waves, bands of cloud motifs and bosses, and a row of recurved petals at the bottom. The Victory Banner is sometimes represented as a canopy resembling a parasol. It symbolises the victory of the Buddha's teaching over ignorance and evil. Carved wood covered with red lacquer and gold pigment.

altar piece
13.12.54/5
Anthropology

2 items (description level: top)
Additional names, titles, or classifications
classified as:  altar pieces (ritual & belief: ritual apparatus)
object name (Horniman Ethno.):  altar piece (ritual & belief: ritual apparatus)

Place
China, East Asia, Asia
Additional place information
made or collected:  China 
Date made
early 20th century
Additional date information
date made:  early 20th century 

Materials and techniques
wood; pigment; lacquer
Additional material & technique information
material: wood (overall)
material: pigment (overall)
material: lacquer (overall)
Measurements
overall: 610 x 223 mm
Additional measurement information
overall: 610 mm x 223 mm
Inscriptions
label:  F .

Provenance
vendor:  Glendining & Co, Ltd  sale 1954-12-13

Use
Placed on the altars of Buddhist temples.


Related objects
part of the same set:  altar piece (13.12.54/8)
part of the same set:  altar piece (13.12.54/6)
part of the same set:  altar piece (13.12.54/3)
part of the same set:  altar piece (13.12.54/1)
Related subjects
related subject: Buddhism
classified as: altar pieces (ritual & belief: ritual apparatus)
object name (Horniman Ethno.): altar pieces (ritual & belief: ritual apparatus)
material: lacquer
material: pigment
material: wood

Record created 2000-01-22 by JPUNNETT
Record last updated 2013-01-24 by RSHEPHERD

Location

  • see part records

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