LACMA

ShopMembershipMyLACMATickets
LACMA
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
info@lacma.org
(323) 857-6000
Sign up to receive emails
Subscribe
© Museum Associates 2025

Museum Hours

Monday

11 am–6 pm

Tuesday

11 am–6 pm

Wednesday

Closed

Thursday

11 am–6 pm

Friday

11 am–8 pm

Saturday

10 am–7 pm

Sunday

10 am–7 pm

 

  • About LACMA
  • Jobs
  • Building LACMA
  • Host An Event
  • Unframed
  • Press
  • FAQs
  • Log in to MyLACMA
  • Privacy Policy
© Museum Associates 2025
Collections

Unknown
Monkey’s Gift of Honey to Buddha Shakyamuni in the Parileyyaka Forest19th century

On view:
Resnick Pavilion, floor 1
Gilt bronze sculpture of a seated Buddha-like figure on an ornate multi-tiered throne, with a tall pagoda finial on a metal armature and small animal figures at the base
Gilt sculpture of a seated Buddha figure viewed from behind, in meditation posture on an ornately carved lotus throne with relief decoration. A tall, tiered crown finial rises on a metal rod above the head. Surface covered in applied gold with intricate texture throughout.
Gilt bronze seated Buddha figure in profile on an elaborately decorated tiered base, with a small elephant figure at the feet and a tall multi-tiered ceremonial umbrella overhead, surface covered in dense repousse floral patterning.
Gilt bronze standing Buddha figure with intricate repoussé robes, atop a tiered rectangular base with beaded borders, surmounted by a tall multi-tiered crown finial with filigree detailing and pendant ornaments.
Gilt bronze standing Buddha figure on a multi-tiered decorated base, wearing intricately patterned robes, with a tall multi-tiered crown finial above; flanked by small attendant figures at the base.
Gilt bronze Buddha image, upper torso and face, wearing elaborately repoussé-decorated royal regalia with floral and beaded patterns across the chest and waist; ushnisha with curled hair, elongated earlobes, downcast eyes, and smooth facial features; patina worn to reveal dark metal beneath.
Gilt bronze sculptural group featuring a rearing elephant with raised trunk, a monkey figure seated on its back, and a small canine figure at lower right, beside an ornately filigreed architectural element; aged, mottled gilded surface on a decorated base.
Gilt bronze sculpture of a monkey figure grasping an elephant's raised trunk, beside a cobra with a flared hood; warm golden patina with darkened recesses, set on a dark wooden base.
Close-up of a gilt bronze pedestal base with densely repoussé-worked surface featuring repeating floral and geometric patterns, set with small stones; three-dimensional miniature animal figures, including a boar and smaller quadrupeds, positioned at the base of a tiered plinth with arched relief borders.
Gilt bronze seated Buddha figure in profile on a tiered decorative base, with a multi-tiered finial crown mounted above on a metal armature; small elephant and monkey figures attend at the base; surface covered in intricate repoussé floral patterning throughout.
Close-up of a gilt bronze sculptural group; a small monkey figure grasps the neck of a hooded cobra, with a rearing animal figure behind, atop a red stone base with decorative carved edging.
Gilt bronze seated Buddha figure in profile, right hand extended in bhumisparsha mudra, with intricate surface detailing, atop a tiered base. A small elephant figure stands at the feet. A multi-tiered ceremonial umbrella rises above on a metal support.
Small gilt bronze elephant figurine with raised trunk and rearing posture, showing aged patina with dark tarnishing; additional brass objects visible on a worn red surface in the background.
Gilded metal Buddha figure seen from behind, seated in meditation posture on an ornately carved lotus throne, with a tall multi-tiered crown or finial rising above the head, finely detailed surface throughout.
Artist or Maker
Unknown
Title
Monkey’s Gift of Honey to Buddha Shakyamuni in the Parileyyaka Forest
Place Made
Thailand, Thonburi
Date Made
19th century
Medium
Gilt copper alloy with lacquer
Dimensions
45 1/2 x 20 1/4 x 28 3/4 in. (115.57 x 51.44 x 73.03 cm)
Credit Line
Mrs. James E. Bentley Bequest
Accession Number
AC1993.53.1a-b
Classification
Sculpture
Collecting Area
South and Southeast Asian Art
Curatorial Notes

This statue depicts a legend from the life of the Buddha. According to the Thai version of this tale, when the Buddha was residing at the city of Kosambi near present-day Allahabad in northern India, his disciples often quarreled among themselves. The Buddha was discouraged by their incessant bickering and went by himself to the Palileyyaka Forest to meditate and fast. One day a monkey lord was frolicking in the trees and saw a lord of the elephants attending the Buddha and bringing him water. The monkey happened to glance upon a honeycomb and decided it would be fitting to offer it to the Buddha. The Buddha was deeply impressed by the animals’ devotion and was moved to break his fast. The monkey was so overjoyed that the Buddha accepted his gift that he went springing through the treetops, dancing with happiness, but fell and was killed. Due to his selfless offering of food to the Buddha, the monkey was immediately reborn into the highest heaven of sensual delight, the Heaven of the Thirty-Three Gods. Curiously, this legend was infrequently portrayed in the art of India, where the monkey’s offering of honey is nonetheless regarded as one of the Eight Great Miracles of the Buddha’s life (see M.77.19.1a-b). In Thailand during the 19th century, representations of the legend became popular and were used in the context of ceremonies performed to prolong life.

Selected Bibliography
  • Little, Stephen, Tushara Bindu Gude, Karina Romero Blanco, Silvia Seligson, Marco Antonio Karam. Las Huellas de Buda. Ciudad de México : Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, 2018.
  • Little, Stephen, and Tushara Bindu Gude. Realms of the Dharma: Buddhist Art across Asia. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 2025.