ARCA

Avalokitesvara

Central Java, c. 875-930

Height : 29.7 cm

The compassionate deity Avalokitesvara sits in a relaxed pose with his right leg down and the left crossed toward the right thigh, in a throne of flames. His crown is embellished with the small identifying symbol of Amitabha. The deity's six arms which originally held an attribute each are now lost. It is assumed that these attached attributes were made of gold. Finally, the bracelets and anklets he wears are brilliantly ornamented in gold while the sarung is embellished with stripes of silver inlay. creating a resplendent effect. The Avalokitesvara sculpture is certainly one of the most beautiful pieces in the collection.

Maitreya

Central Java, c. 700-825

Height: 17.6 cm

Meitreya is identified by the small symbol of a stupa in his head

dress and the lotus in his hand. The statue, with its tall and slender composure and a slight contraposto stance (where the weight of the body has been transferred to one leg) and sarung tied with a simple knotted cord, has been associated with the Indian, sculptural tradition of the Pallava period (c. 325-897).

Buddha figure

flanked by

Avalokitesvara

Central Java, c. 800-50

Height: 12 cm

This piece was originally a triad consisting of a central Buddha figure flanked by a couple of bodhisatvas. The central figure is identified to be the Sakyamuni Buddha or Aksobhya ( The Imperturbable Lord of the East ) due to his hand gesture of touching the earth. Flanking him is Avalokitisvara, identified by the lotus in his hand and the small figure of Amitabha in the head dress. The missing bodhisatya is most likely to be Vajrapani (Bearer of the Thunderbolt), as concluded from studies of other intact triads.

Siva

Central Java, c. 875-930

Height: 5 cm

The figure of the Hindu god Siva, is identified by the presence of this attributes which include the trident, water flask, rosary and fly whisk, all of which have now been lost. Other identifying elements include a third eye in the middle of this forehead and a skull and crescent moon in his coiffure which seems to have eroded. The figure is dressed in a full length sarung tied to the waist with an elaborate sash. This representation of Siva, one of the few Hindu deities, is one of the largest in the collection.

Amitabha

Central Java, c. 800-50

Height: 26 cm

Seated in the lotus position with his hands in a mediative pose, this image is identified as Amitabha, the Buddha of Infinite Light. This statue is comparable to contemporary representations.

One of the most charming collections of Javanese arca is housed in a small museum in Solo,Central Java. The collection of the Radya Pustaka museum of Surakarta consists of familyheirlooms and artwork gathered from members of the court : family regalia, including shadow, masks, weapon, ceramics, as well as manuscripts, stone and arca sculptures, and architectural models of important structures affiliated with the court.

The Rady Pustaka Museum of Surakarta was founded in 1890 by K.R.A. Sasradiningrat IV, who was the Prime Minister of Surakarta during the reign of Pakubuwono IX (1861-93). The collection was originally called the Pahema Radya Pustaka or The Society for the Care of the Library of the Realm, and housed in the compound of the Prime Minister.

Later in 1913, the collection was moved to its current location adjacent to the Sriwidari Park on Jalan Slamet Riyadi in Solo. The museum continued to develop into one of the best in classical Javanese art.

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