Shrine of Goddess Durga
Carving
1825-1850 (made)
1825-1850 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
Shrines of this type were used in India for domestic worship (puja) in private households. This example, however, is larger and more elaborate than normal and was probably made specifically for display in the Great Exhibition of 1851.
People
This shrine was probably made by a member of the small Bhaskara caste of Vaishnavites (followers of the god Vishnu), who were traditionally responsible for manufacturing ivory images of Hindu deities in Bengal.
Materials & Making
The art of ivory carving has been practised throughout India for thousands of years. In the mid-19th century, when this shrine was made, elephant ivory (much of it imported from Africa) was readily available; and yet Sir George Watt, writing 50 years later, observed that nowhere in India was ivory carving as common as might have been expected and that a fair amount of imported hippopotamus, walrus and fossilised mammoth ivory from Siberia was also used. By the late 20th century, conservation concerns had largely put a stop to the ivory trade, and nowadays few craftsmen make use of the material.
Shrines of this type were used in India for domestic worship (puja) in private households. This example, however, is larger and more elaborate than normal and was probably made specifically for display in the Great Exhibition of 1851.
People
This shrine was probably made by a member of the small Bhaskara caste of Vaishnavites (followers of the god Vishnu), who were traditionally responsible for manufacturing ivory images of Hindu deities in Bengal.
Materials & Making
The art of ivory carving has been practised throughout India for thousands of years. In the mid-19th century, when this shrine was made, elephant ivory (much of it imported from Africa) was readily available; and yet Sir George Watt, writing 50 years later, observed that nowhere in India was ivory carving as common as might have been expected and that a fair amount of imported hippopotamus, walrus and fossilised mammoth ivory from Siberia was also used. By the late 20th century, conservation concerns had largely put a stop to the ivory trade, and nowadays few craftsmen make use of the material.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Shrine of Goddess Durga (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Carved ivory |
| Brief description | Ivory Shrine Carving of the Hindu Goddess Durga, West Bengal, 1825-50. |
| Physical description | Carved ivory shrine of the Hindu goddess Durga, depicted here as the 'Mahishasuramardini'. The central figure of the shrine is the ten-armed form of the goddess Devi or Shakti, standing on her vehicle, the lion and is slaying the buffalo demon. On the left hand side of the shrine are the elephant-headed god Ganesh with his vehicle, the rat and Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth standing on a lotus.On the other side are Kartikeya on his vehicle, the peacock and Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and music also standing on a lotus. The semi-circular frieze or 'pata' or 'chalchitra' on the top part of the shrine includes various mythological scenes. As part of the decoration of the shrine also included some neo-classical architectural elements which were popular features of the period in Bengal. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | British Galleries:
Carved ivory was one of the most celebrated of India's luxury products. This shrine, designed to be used in Hindu ceremonies, was made specially for the Exhibition. It is probably carved with Durga, the ten-armed form of the Hindu goddess Devi, slaying the buffalo demon, Mahisha.(25/03/2003) |
| Object history | Made by a member of the Bhaskara (?) caste in Berhampur, West Bengal, India. Berhampur in Murshidabad District was a major centre for ivory carving. Exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851. |
| Production | Made by a member of the Bhaskara (?) caste in Berhampur, West Bengal, India |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Object Type Shrines of this type were used in India for domestic worship (puja) in private households. This example, however, is larger and more elaborate than normal and was probably made specifically for display in the Great Exhibition of 1851. People This shrine was probably made by a member of the small Bhaskara caste of Vaishnavites (followers of the god Vishnu), who were traditionally responsible for manufacturing ivory images of Hindu deities in Bengal. Materials & Making The art of ivory carving has been practised throughout India for thousands of years. In the mid-19th century, when this shrine was made, elephant ivory (much of it imported from Africa) was readily available; and yet Sir George Watt, writing 50 years later, observed that nowhere in India was ivory carving as common as might have been expected and that a fair amount of imported hippopotamus, walrus and fossilised mammoth ivory from Siberia was also used. By the late 20th century, conservation concerns had largely put a stop to the ivory trade, and nowadays few craftsmen make use of the material. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1070-1852 |
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| Record created | September 17, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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