Fragment of Sculpture thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Fragment of Sculpture

11th Century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A shaivite attendant with the bull, Nandi, both of which are broken off midway down their legs. The pot-bellied attendant stands on the left. He is naked other than wearing a garland, and large ear, neck and wrist ornaments. He is carrying a club in his left hand and skull cap held at chest level in his right. He stands beside the bull Nandi, the head of which bears some damage, presumably forming part of a group depicting the family group of Shiva and Uma, known as Umamaheshvara. The damaged carving above the head of Nandi may have represented part of the hand or foot of one of the two principal deities resting on a lotus cushion. The attributes borne by the figure are normal for a Kapalika ascetic.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Sandstone
Brief description
A Shaivite attendant with Nandi
Physical description
A shaivite attendant with the bull, Nandi, both of which are broken off midway down their legs. The pot-bellied attendant stands on the left. He is naked other than wearing a garland, and large ear, neck and wrist ornaments. He is carrying a club in his left hand and skull cap held at chest level in his right. He stands beside the bull Nandi, the head of which bears some damage, presumably forming part of a group depicting the family group of Shiva and Uma, known as Umamaheshvara. The damaged carving above the head of Nandi may have represented part of the hand or foot of one of the two principal deities resting on a lotus cushion. The attributes borne by the figure are normal for a Kapalika ascetic.
Dimensions
  • Height: 20cm
Object history
Bought at Sotheby's, Ist August 1939, lot No. 220, from the collection of H.E. Baron Werhner von Ow-Wachendorf, formerly in the German foreign service, during which time he was consul general in Calcutta.
Production
North India, probably southern Uttar Pradesh, said to have been from Kausambi..
Subject depicted
Bibliographic references
  • Sotheby's Catalogue: "Kausambi (Stone). A fragment of a Halo with lotus petals and garland, in reddish sandstone (" x 7 1/2", Gupta; three heads of Bodhisattvas and three fragments, post Gupta.
  • Haworth-Booth, Mark; Indian Sculpture: A Travelling Exhibition, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 1971 no. 60
Collection
Accession number
IM.166-1939

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Record createdJuly 11, 2002
Record URL
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