About

Object Number: N8141, N8142

Collection: Eastern Art

Votive plaques are objects made for the purpose of making offerings at religious sites. These two examples are terracotta Buddha images—the Buddha’s image is used for these offerings because of its spiritual power. Plaques like this have been made in Burma and used in this way since at least the ninth century, and continue to be reproduced today. The nature of their production, with moulds and designs being re-used over and again, makes them very difficult to date. These were collected by the British as signs of Burmese devotion.