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
Manuscript Illustrating the Last Ten Birth Stories (Thotsachat) of the Buddha and the Tale of Phra Malaicirca 1860-1880

On view:
Resnick Pavilion, floor 1
Horizontal lacquered book board or manuscript cover with dense all-over gilt decoration featuring a coiling dragon, scrolling vines, and dotwork against a dark lacquer ground
Rectangular manuscript leaf with aged cream-colored surface, densely inscribed with rows of Khmer script arranged in two columns, with bullet-pointed lines throughout and worn edges showing brown deterioration.
Rectangular palm leaf manuscript page with columns of Khmer script in dark ink on a pale ivory ground, arranged in two-column format with bullet-point markers, worn edges with dark borders.
Rectangular manuscript leaf with rows of Khmer script in black ink on pale yellowish paper, arranged in two columns with bullet points, worn edges with dark border.
Rectangular manuscript leaf with aged cream-colored surface, densely inscribed in Khmer script arranged in two columns with bullet-pointed lines throughout.
Rectangular manuscript leaf with two columns of Khmer script text arranged in bullet-pointed lines, on aged cream-colored paper with darkened edges.
Manuscript page with two columns of Khmer script text, black ink on yellowed paper, with bullet points marking each line and darkened edges suggesting age.
Rectangular manuscript leaf with rows of Khmer script in black ink on an aged cream-colored surface, arranged in two columns with bullet-point markers.
Horizontal painted panel on beige ground, depicting two footed bowls with pale yellow fruits and white chrysanthemum blooms connected by a trailing vine with green leaves, rendered in muted greens and white with delicate brushwork; three blank rectangular labels along the bottom edge.
Horizontal painted panel depicting two blue ceramic vases on gilt stands, each holding flowering plants with pink and white blossoms, flanking a central arrangement of decorative objects with swirling cloud-like forms and a red-and-gold folded form with Chinese characters; flat, linear brushwork on cream ground.
Illustrated Khmer manuscript page with columns of Khmer script at center, flanked by two painted narrative scenes; left scene shows a golden figure seated in a pavilion surrounded by a crowd of figures in combat below; right scene depicts a multi-tiered temple with gilded figures and attendants in court dress.
Rectangular manuscript leaf with aged cream-colored surface, densely inscribed with rows of Khmer script in dark ink, arranged in two columns with bullet-like markers at the start of several lines.
Rectangular manuscript page with rows of Khmer script text arranged in two columns, written in dark ink on a pale cream ground with painted black borders.
Rectangular palm leaf or paper manuscript page with rows of Khmer script arranged in two columns, cream-colored surface with aged brown edges
Rectangular manuscript page with rows of Khmer script arranged in two columns, black ink on cream-colored paper, with a worn and darkened border edge.
Rectangular manuscript leaf with rows of Khmer script in dark ink on cream-colored paper, arranged in two columns with bullet points marking verse lines.
Rectangular manuscript page with multiple lines of Khmer script arranged in two columns, ink on pale cream-colored material, with bullet points marking each line entry.
Rectangular palm leaf manuscript page with rows of Khmer script in dark ink on a light ground, arranged in two columns separated by a central margin, with dot markers at the left edge of each line.
Rectangular palm leaf or paper manuscript page with rows of Khmer script text arranged in two columns, cream-colored surface with darkened edges.
Palm leaf manuscript page with rows of Khmer script arranged in two columns, dark ink on aged ivory-colored surface with worn edges
Rectangular manuscript leaf with rows of Khmer script in brown ink on a cream-colored ground, arranged in two columns with bullet points, on a slightly worn surface with darkened edges.
Rectangular palm leaf or ivory-colored manuscript page with multiple lines of Khmer script arranged in two columns, with small circular bullet markers, on an aged cream background with dark edges.
Rectangular manuscript page with rows of Khmer script arranged in two columns, written in dark ink on aged cream-colored paper with worn edges.
Rectangular manuscript page with rows of Khmer script in dark ink on aged cream-colored paper or palm leaf, arranged in two columns with bullet points marking each line.
Rectangular manuscript leaf with multiple lines of Khmer script arranged in two columns on aged cream-colored paper, with dark edges suggesting a palm-leaf or paper manuscript format.
Rectangular manuscript leaf with aged cream surface, densely inscribed in Khmer script arranged in two columns with bullet-pointed lines of text.
Rectangular palm leaf manuscript page with rows of Khmer script in dark ink on aged ivory-colored surface, arranged in two columns with bullet points marking sections, slightly worn edges.
Rectangular manuscript leaf with rows of Khmer script in black ink on cream-colored paper, arranged in two columns with bullet-pointed lines.
Illustrated Khmer manuscript page with Khmer script text in the center panel, flanked by two painted scenes. Left scene shows a crowned figure seated on a red throne with attendants below. Right scene depicts multiple figures in golden garments on a terrace and two figures on the ground below, with architectural elements and tiled roofing. Painted in red, gold, and green with fine detail.
Rectangular manuscript leaf with rows of Khmer script in two columns on aged cream-colored paper, with bullet-point markers along the left margin of each column.
Palm leaf manuscript page with dense Khmer script arranged in bullet-pointed rows across two columns on aged, cream-colored material with darkened edges.
Rectangular manuscript page with rows of Khmer script in dark ink on yellowed paper, arranged in two columns with bullet-pointed lines and a horizontal fold visible across the center.
Rectangular manuscript leaf with aged cream-colored surface, densely inscribed with multiple lines of Khmer script arranged in two columns, with bullet-point markers at the start of several lines.
Rectangular manuscript leaf with rows of Khmer script in dark ink on aged cream-colored surface, arranged in two columns with bullet points marking each line.
Rectangular manuscript leaf with multiple lines of Khmer script arranged in two columns, black ink on cream-colored paper, with bullet-pointed entries and slight darkening along the edges.
Rectangular manuscript page with rows of Khmer script in brown ink on cream-colored ground, arranged in two columns with bullet-like markers, on a wooden board with worn dark edges.
Rectangular manuscript page with rows of Khmer script in black ink on aged cream-colored paper, mounted on a dark-edged backing, arranged in two columns with bullet points.
Rectangular manuscript leaf with aged cream-colored surface, densely inscribed with rows of Khmer script in two columns, with dark borders along the edges.
Rectangular manuscript leaf with rows of Khmer script in two columns, black ink on aged cream-colored palm leaf or paper, with bullet points marking each line.
Rectangular manuscript leaf with rows of Khmer script in black ink on yellowed paper, arranged in two columns with bullet points, showing age-worn edges.
Manuscript leaf with two columns of Khmer script arranged in bullet-pointed lines, written in dark ink on aged cream-colored paper with worn, discolored edges.
Rectangular manuscript leaf with aged cream surface, densely inscribed with two columns of Khmer script in dark ink, arranged in horizontal lines with bullet-like markers at the left of each line.
Rectangular manuscript leaf with aged, cream-colored surface, densely inscribed with rows of Khmer script in two columns, with bullet-point markers at left margins; edges show wear and darkening.
Rectangular palm leaf or paper manuscript page with rows of Khmer script in dark ink, arranged in two columns with bullet points, on an aged cream-colored surface with worn edges.
Rectangular ceramic tile with painted botanical decoration in green and white on a cream ground; three clusters of round fruits and foliage flank a central stylized flower with feathery petals, rendered in fluid brushwork with worn edges.
Artist or Maker
Unknown
Title
Manuscript Illustrating the Last Ten Birth Stories (Thotsachat) of the Buddha and the Tale of Phra Malai
Place Made
Thailand
Date Made
circa 1860-1880
Medium
Opaque watercolor and ink on paper; Covers: gilded and lacquered paper
Dimensions
5 1/2 x 26 7/8 x 2 1/2 in. (13.97 x 68.26 x 6.35 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Neustatter
Accession Number
M.76.93.2
Classification
Manuscripts
Collecting Area
South and Southeast Asian Art
Curatorial Notes
This Buddhist manuscript combines some tales of the past lives of the Buddha (Jatakas) with the account of the Sri Lankan monk Arhat Maliyadeva (2nd century BCE), who is known as Phra Malai in Thailand. The monk is said to have attained supernatural powers through his accumulated merit and meditation. His story was one of the most popular themes in 19th-century Thai Theravada literature and was often recited at funerals.
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.