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Hanuman

Figure
12th century-13th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Sri Lanka (made)

A standing monkey with hands outstretched in the gesture of holding a tray or some object now missing (possibly the sandals of Rama). The long tapering legs are slightly flexed at the knees, and the body is naked except for a light girdle which leaves the genitals exposed. Attached to the girdle is sheathed dagger. The hair is dressed close to the crown in neat tresses, with a curl on top and a fillet of flowers across the front. There are signs that the figure once had a tail, now missing. The ears have small holes for the attachment of pendants, also missing. Two necklaces are worn, the lower one possibly intended to be set with jewels or semi-precious stones. The figure is fixed to a high multi-tiered and circular base, made in two separate sections then joined together and engraved with lotus petals.

Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Metalwork
Bronze
Animals and Wildlife
Religion
Hinduism
Object type
Figure
TitleHanuman (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Bronze
Brief description
Standing figure of Hanuman, bronze, Sri Lanka, 12th to 13th century.
Physical description
A standing monkey with hands outstretched in the gesture of holding a tray or some object now missing (possibly the sandals of Rama). The long tapering legs are slightly flexed at the knees, and the body is naked except for a light girdle which leaves the genitals exposed. Attached to the girdle is sheathed dagger. The hair is dressed close to the crown in neat tresses, with a curl on top and a fillet of flowers across the front. There are signs that the figure once had a tail, now missing. The ears have small holes for the attachment of pendants, also missing. Two necklaces are worn, the lower one possibly intended to be set with jewels or semi-precious stones. The figure is fixed to a high multi-tiered and circular base, made in two separate sections then joined together and engraved with lotus petals.
Dimensions
  • Height: 76cm
  • Diameter: 8.5in
Style
Chola
Credit line
Given by W. Morris, Esq.
Object history
Given by W.Morris, Esq. W. Morris was Government Agent & Fiscal, 1837-65.
Subject depicted
Hanuman
Bibliographic references
  • E.B.Havell, Eleven Plates Representing Works of Indian Sculptue Chiefly in English Collections, India Society, London 1911, Plate VII. A.K.Coomarasamy, Bronzes from Ceylon, Chiefly in the Colombo Museum, Memoirs of Colombo Museum, series \A, no.1, 1914, plate 25., , Visvakarma, London,1914, plate C. O.C.Gangoly, South Indian Bronzes, Calcutta, 1915, plate LXIX. K.N.Sitaram, "Indian Bronzes," Connoisseur, vol.LXIX, 1924, p.67. P.R.Srinivasin, Bronzes of South India, Bulletin of the Madras Government Museum, New Series, General Section, vol.8, Madras, 1963, fig.319. J.C.Irwin, "A Gift from William Morris," V & A Museum Bulletin, no.1. 1965, pp. -------------, " Towards a Humanist Appreciation of Indian Art," Kunwar Mohammed Ashraf, an Indian scholar and revolutionary (1903-1962), Deutsche Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin, 1966, pp.235-242.
  • Ayers, J. Oriental Art in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London 1983, ISBN 0-85667-120-7 p. 65
  • Irwin, John C., Indian Art, Victoria and Albert Museum, London: H. M. Stationery Office, 1968
  • Irwin, John, C., A Brief Guide to Indian Art, H.M.S.O. 1962 fig. 6
  • Irwin, John; Indian Art: Victoria & Albert Museum departmental guide, H.M.S.O. ISBN 0 905209117, 1978 fig. 7, p. 8
  • P.H.D.H. de Silva, " A Catalogue of Antiquities and other cultural objects from Sri Lanka (Ceylon) Abroad", National Museums of Sri Lanka,1975, p.285 and plate 45.
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
275-1869

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Record createdSeptember 20, 2001
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O62620/hanuman-figure-unknown/
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