Not currently on display at the V&A

Shri

Figure
ca. 1750-1825 (made)
Place of origin

A standing bare-breasted figure of a goddess in the tribhanga pose holding a closed lotus blossom (utpala) in her left hand. This may indicate that she is Bhu, a consort of Vishnu, but usually this goddess holds a lotus in her right hand, while Vishnu's consort, Shri, is normally depicted standing on the right hand side (proper) of the god holding a lotus flower in her left hand. However, Shri is typically shown wearing a breast band holding an open lotus (padma).


Object details

Category
Object type
Titles
  • Shri (generic title)
  • Bhu (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Copper alloy, casting
Brief description
Standing figure of a goddess, either Shri or Bhu Devi, copper alloy, South India, ca. 1750-1825
Physical description
A standing bare-breasted figure of a goddess in the tribhanga pose holding a closed lotus blossom (utpala) in her left hand. This may indicate that she is Bhu, a consort of Vishnu, but usually this goddess holds a lotus in her right hand, while Vishnu's consort, Shri, is normally depicted standing on the right hand side (proper) of the god holding a lotus flower in her left hand. However, Shri is typically shown wearing a breast band holding an open lotus (padma).
Dimensions
  • Height: 10.3cm
Object history
This object was transferred from the India Museum in 1879 to the South Kensington Museum, later to become the V&A Museum. In the 1880 Inventory the object is described as 'Lakshmi with the number 9030 in the India Museum Slip Books coming from the collection given by Col. Mackenzie, but this is queried by the addition of a question mark.
Collection
Accession number
651(IS)

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Record createdJune 25, 2009
Record URL
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