INDONESIA, JAVA, 14TH/15TH CENTURY

Jambhala, the Buddhist god of prosperity and abundance, is seated in lalitasana atop a rounded base, his pendant foot resting on a rising lotus blossom. He holds what is likely a mongoose spewing jewels, a symbol of his power to manifest wealth. His plump body is adorned with beaded ornaments and his head is topped with a conical crown. His delicately rendered facial features convey a benevolent expression. He is the perfect miniature talisman, certain to bring good fortune to his caretaker. Compare with a similarly modeled bronze figure of Jambhala in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (1987.142.301).