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Secondary sourceSculpturec. 500–700 CE

Sultanganj Buddha

c. 500–700 CE

A rare and massive copper statue of the standing Buddha from Gupta-era India, now in Birmingham.

A rare large metal statue showing the mature Indian image of the standing Buddha.

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Full-length bronze standing figure of the Buddha against a plain light background. Right hand raised palm outward, left hand lowered with palm open, wearing a monastic robe draped over both shoulders, with tightly curled hair and eyes downcast.
Sultanganj Buddha, c. 500–700 CE. Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, England.

About this source

What it is

The Sultanganj Buddha is a large copper statue of the standing Buddha, dated to around 500–700 CE, made by the lost-wax casting technique. Found in Sultanganj, India, in 1861 during railway construction, it is now held at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

Why it matters

It is the largest substantially complete metal Buddha figure surviving from this transitional Gupta–Pala period, when most such large figures were made of stone or stucco rather than metal. The statue shows the mature Indian image of the Buddha—its raised hand gesture and flowing robe reflect how artists of the time expressed calm and reassurance. Its discovery and move to England also connects it to the history of colonial-era archaeology.

Look closer

  • What can the statue's hand gestures tell you about the ideas the sculptor wanted to convey?
  • Why do you think this object ended up in a museum in England rather than staying in India?
  • What does the statue's size and material tell you about the skill and resources needed to make it?

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