Nepal, 16th–17th century; ivory; H. 5 1/2 in.; The Newark Museum, Purchase 1973 Wallace M. Scudder Bequest Fund, 73.130, photo: Robert Goodbody, Courtesy of The Newark Museum.

This tiny ivory sculpture from Nepal replicates a famous icon—Phagpa Lokeshvara—from the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. The Potala is a holy, venerated site of pilgrimage, particularly for Himalayan Buddhists. Many versions of the Potala icon were made in a variety of media. They all have three-lobed crowns, low-hanging sashes, and heavy earrings. Though missing from this sculpture, the right hand would have made the compassionate varada mudra. This replica’s small size, combined with its rare, expensive medium, suggests that it was an object of personal devotion, which would have been incredibly precious to its owner. CF