Bodhisattvas are sentient beings who have chosen to forego the final step to Buddhahood or nirvana in order to remain on earth to teach the principles of Buddhism and to assist other sentient beings. There are many bodhisattvas, but four in particular, Avalokitesvara among them, stand out and are commonly portrayed in art as symbols of every person’s potential to attain spiritual salvation. Avalokitesvara is also known as the Bodhisattva of Compassion, and is commonly represented in the islands of Southeast Asia, especially during the Srivijaya period (8th–9th centuries), as a prince adorned with lavish jewelry and crowned with an elaborate headdress.

The Johnson’s example is framed with a band of ornaments consisting of open flames on the sides and the top of the figure, and at the bottom left and right by two stylized makara (dragon-heads). These decorations can be found on other representations of the standing Avalokitesvara, residues of Hindu motifs and typical of Javanese sculpture in particular. Here Avalokitesvara is shown standing with both arms raised in the vitarka mudra, or argument gesture. This emphasizes the Bodhisattva’s role as a disciple of the Buddha and a teacher of the Buddha’s doctrine.

Small portable bronze images of this type have been found throughout Java and were used as votive images or icons. They were not meant to be housed in shrines; rather, they enabled individual patrons and worshipers to gain access to spiritual merit.