20th century AD. A gilt-bronze hollow-formed figure of Arya Tara siting cross-legged on a lotus-flower dais with hands in the gesture of reassurance, wearing an elaborate crown, flowers to her sides, earrings and neck ornamentation; blue enamelling(?) to her hair. Cf. Veleanu, M., Tibetan Artifacts, Hong Kong, 2009, p.138, for a comparable example and discussion. 2.5 kg, 30cm (11 3/4"). From the celebrated collection of art formed by the famous anthropologist, artist and television presenter Desmond Morris; previously in an Oxfordshire, UK, collection. Arya Tara is the most important Buddhist goddess. Her name means 'she who delivers' and it is her role to save all beings from suffering. According to legend she was born from a tear shed by Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of compassion, when he saw the suffering on Earth. She takes on twenty one forms that are specific to various forms of suffering in the world. She is also popular in Hinduism where she is worshipped as a manifestation of the great goddess and has an important shrine at Tarapith in West Bengal.