53.Reliquaries in the shape of a stūpa
- 3rd–4th century
- Central or western regions of Sri Lanka
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
The miniature reliquaries here replicate a Sri Lankan stūpa profile, distinguished by a semispherical dome and a high-railed enclosure capped by stacked umbrellas (chattras). In these reliquaries the umbrella serves as the stopper for closing the container. They are carved from rock crystal, a material revered for its purity and ability to transmit light.
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