Vishnu shrine with consorts and attendant, South India, bronze, 1800-1850.

A composite shrine with a leafy arch containing Vishnu standing in the centre under a naga canopy with two transverse cross ribs attached to each side of the arch. His two consorts, both holding similar lotus buds, Sridevi and Bhudevi stand either side of him in front of the arch supports. A smaller figure of Garuda with his hands in the anjali mudra position is slotted onto a projecting pedestal on the base on the right hand side. A similar projecfting pedestal is missing its figureof Hanuman on the left hand side. The base stands on small cylindrical feet Originally cast in seven pieces, now only six, as one of the figures is missing.

Transferred from the India Museum in London to the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A) in 1879. It was numbered 307 in the India Museum Slip Book and the figure of Vishnu is described as Ballaji coming from Triputty , Madras. This presumably refers to Tirupaty where there is a Vishnu Ballagi temple. The town is described as having 'a considerable trade in small brass and copper deities of local manufacture', The Imperial Gazetteer of India, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1908, vol XVI, p.292. The figure of Vishnu is shown with his lower left hand resting on his hip rather than holding a club (gada) which is a characteristic of representations of Bellaji Vishnu.

720(IS)