Parashurama
Figure
mid 19th century (made)
mid 19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Parashurama (Rama-with-the-axe) is shown as the first incarnation of Vishnu in human form with two arms holding an axe in his right hand. He stands on a lotus pedestal which is slotted oninto a tiered base decorated with a patterning of latticework and circles, lotus petals and beading.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Parashurama (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Copper alloy, cast |
| Brief description | Copper alloy figure; Parashurama, the 6th incarnation of Vishnu, South India (probably Madras), mid 19th century. |
| Physical description | Parashurama (Rama-with-the-axe) is shown as the first incarnation of Vishnu in human form with two arms holding an axe in his right hand. He stands on a lotus pedestal which is slotted oninto a tiered base decorated with a patterning of latticework and circles, lotus petals and beading. |
| 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. The India Museum Slips, No. 303 describe the figure as coming from Madras, and having been received from 'Madras EXH.1855', presumably the Paris Universal Exhibiton of 1855. This may have come from a set of ten images ( Das Avatara) of the incarnations of Vishnu. It bears similarities of design with 522, 529, 553 (IS), all of which were exhibited at the Universal Exhibition, Paris, 1855. |
| Bibliographic reference | Mitchell, A.G., Hindu Gods and Goddesses, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1982, pl.16. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 528(IS) |
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| Record created | January 2, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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