ART WIKI
Throne of the Buddha, 2nd century - 3rd century

Throne of the Buddha

2nd century - 3rd century · Sculpture · 33 × 22 cm

Can I see it?

Yes, on view now

Where is “Throne of the Buddha” now? Victoria and Albert Museum, Buddhism, Room 47f, The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Galleries of Buddhist Art, London. Yes, on view now. Checked September 25, 2026.

Victoria and Albert Museum

London, United Kingdom

RoomBuddhism, Room 47f, The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Galleries of Buddhist Art

Closed· opens at 10:00 AM

On public display.

Checked
In this state since
Source
The museum
On the mapMuseum page

About the sculpture

This red sandstone carving probably once formed part of a temple or shrine. It depicts the adoration of the empty throne, with a Buddhist emblem on it. The emblem can be variously interpreted as a throne cushion, a discarded turban headdress or a 'dharmachakra' ('wheel of law') symbol.

Early Buddhist artists were reluctant to represent the Buddha in human form. They preferred to indicate his presence symbolically. This relief indicates the Buddha's presence through an empty throne, attended by two attendants bearing fly-whisks, emblems of a world sovereign (‘cakravartin’), and flanked by winged-lion capitals.

Victoria and Albert Museum

Details

Accession number
IS.1039-1883

What it shows

Buddhist

In the catalog

SculptureStoneKushanMathura

Sources

In the same room · Buddhism, Room 47f, The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Galleries of Buddhist Art, Victoria and Albert Museum

Museum page
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