Four-Armed Bodhisattva

This 9th-10th century bronze from Central Java shows a four-armed bodhisattva. Multiple arms represent superhuman powers and the ability to perform multiple compassionate actions simultaneously. Each hand typically holds different attributes or forms mudras that symbolize specific powers, teachings, or protective qualities. The small size (about 4 inches) indicates this was a personal devotional object or votive offering at a Buddhist shrine.

The piece dates to the height of Central Javanese Buddhist culture, the same era that produced Borobudur, the world's largest Buddhist monument. Javanese bronzes from this period show distinctive local characteristics while maintaining Indian iconographic principles: rounder faces, fuller bodies, and more naturalistic proportions than Indian models. The lost-wax casting technique at this miniature scale required outstanding skill. It's at the Art Institute of Chicago.