Monk
May one see it?
Not receiving at present
Victoria and Albert Museum
London, United Kingdom
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- 7 days ago
- In this state since
- Sep 25, 2026
- Source
- The museum's own collection data
About the sculpture
Cast iron came into use for outdoor sculpture during the Song dynasty (960–1279) because of a bronze shortage. After casting, the surface was covered with gesso, lacquer, paper and paint. These have since disappeared, to reveal the coarse casting lines that show how the figure was made in sections and then welded together. The simple stylised lines on the monk’s robe underline the sparse and spiritual aesthetic of the figure as a whole.
Victoria and Albert Museum
Particulars
- Accession number
- M.318-1921
In the catalog
Sources
- Victoria and Albert Museum: the museum's own open data · fetched 7 days ago
- Image: Victoria and Albert Museum — © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
