Vamana, 5th incarnation of Vishnu
Figure
19th century (made)
19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Vishnu in the form an incarnatuion of Vamana with a water-pot hanging from his right wrist and an umbrella held in his left hand, which shows Vamana before his transformation into Vishnu Trivikarama, capable of taking three enormous strides to take possession of heaven and earth. He is cast separately from the base.He stands on a duble lotus pedestal on a tiered base decorated with a design of crosshatchings and circles in hte drieze and a lotus petal design on the moulding below with beading on the edges.
Vishnu's fifth avatar, depicted as a two-armed dwarf, holding an umbrella in his left hand and with a spouted lota hanging from his right hand. Part of a group with other avatars. Cast separately from a disproportionately large base but wedged firmed in place.
Vishnu's fifth avatar, depicted as a two-armed dwarf, holding an umbrella in his left hand and with a spouted lota hanging from his right hand. Part of a group with other avatars. Cast separately from a disproportionately large base but wedged firmed in place.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Vamana, 5th incarnation of Vishnu (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | copper alloy, casting |
| Brief description | Copper alloy figure of Vamana, the dwarf and 5th incarnation of Vishnu, South India (probably Madras), 19th century. |
| Physical description | Vishnu in the form an incarnatuion of Vamana with a water-pot hanging from his right wrist and an umbrella held in his left hand, which shows Vamana before his transformation into Vishnu Trivikarama, capable of taking three enormous strides to take possession of heaven and earth. He is cast separately from the base.He stands on a duble lotus pedestal on a tiered base decorated with a design of crosshatchings and circles in hte drieze and a lotus petal design on the moulding below with beading on the edges. Vishnu's fifth avatar, depicted as a two-armed dwarf, holding an umbrella in his left hand and with a spouted lota hanging from his right hand. Part of a group with other avatars. Cast separately from a disproportionately large base but wedged firmed in place. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Transferred from the India Museum in London to the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A) in 1879. It is describes in the 1880 inventory as 'idol, an attendant of Vishnu' and is numbered 420 in the India Museum Slip Books. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Bibliographic reference | Mitchell, A.G. 'Hindu Gods and Goddesses.' London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982. Plate 15. ISBN 011290372X |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 692(IS) |
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| Record created | January 2, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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