Bodhisattva Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future

Bodhisattva Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The messianic savior Maitreya is identified by the flask he holds in his lower hand. He is seated in a yogic posture on a double-lotus cushion and extends spiritual protection to believers with his raised hand, here displayed with the palm facing inwards, not outwards as is conventional. This icon has a superbly preserved metal surface, complete with silver inlay on the eyes and forehead mark (urna). The raised ornamentation reflects an awareness of Gupta design. The figure and base were cast separately, and the lotus base is inscribed on the reverse with a donor dedication.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Bodhisattva Maitreya, the Buddha of the FutureBodhisattva Maitreya, the Buddha of the FutureBodhisattva Maitreya, the Buddha of the FutureBodhisattva Maitreya, the Buddha of the FutureBodhisattva Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.