Relief sculpture thumbnail 1
Relief sculpture thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Relief sculpture

Relief
10th Century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The arched slab is carved in relief with the representation of a Naga-god, of which only the top half now remains, the figure having lost its legs and left arm below the elbow. He faces to the front, but his body is shown in tribanga pose with his right hip jutting out. He holds his rosary-encircled right hand up in an abayhamudra. He wears a necklace from which hangs a diamond-shaped fleuron and heavy armbands visible on his left forearm. He also has a scared thread looped over his left shoulder which snakes down to a jewelled belt just above his hips. The head of the god is overshadowed by a five-headed cobra. He also wears heavy earrings and his hair is brushed up under a crown which is overshadowed by an encircling aureole of five naga heads. The head of the god is overshadowed by a five-headed cobra.

The general style of the sculpture resembles that on the Temples at Khajuraho, Chhatarpur District, Central India..


Object details

Object type
TitleRelief sculpture (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Carved reddish sandstone
Brief description
Relief panel of Naga-god with five headed Cobra, sandstone, 10th century, Madhya Pradesh.
Physical description
The arched slab is carved in relief with the representation of a Naga-god, of which only the top half now remains, the figure having lost its legs and left arm below the elbow. He faces to the front, but his body is shown in tribanga pose with his right hip jutting out. He holds his rosary-encircled right hand up in an abayhamudra. He wears a necklace from which hangs a diamond-shaped fleuron and heavy armbands visible on his left forearm. He also has a scared thread looped over his left shoulder which snakes down to a jewelled belt just above his hips. The head of the god is overshadowed by a five-headed cobra. He also wears heavy earrings and his hair is brushed up under a crown which is overshadowed by an encircling aureole of five naga heads. The head of the god is overshadowed by a five-headed cobra.

The general style of the sculpture resembles that on the Temples at Khajuraho, Chhatarpur District, Central India..
Dimensions
  • Height: 15.5in
  • Width: 7in
Style
Credit line
Purchased from Messrs. C. Pratt & Sons for 35 shillings. in 1924.
Subject depicted
Collection
Accession number
IM.62-1924

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Record createdJune 27, 2002
Record URL
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