Durga
Figure
19th century (made)
19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The deity has eight arms, and holds on the left trident, sword, snake and bell, and on the right, drum, shield, cup and water-pot; she is seated in 'sukhasana' posture on a double lotus throne and wears a garland of skulls. There is a 'torana' or flaming arch at the back. The conch shell (right) and wheel (left) symbols are usually associated with Vishnu and often held by Durga. Durga is a female deity who is associated with Shiva. She was invoked by the gods for her active and sometime violent assistance against demons, terrors and disasters.
A three-piece shrine-figure, base and arch. The figure does not belong to the rest of the shrine and has been fitted to a larger sub-base to fit the base slot. The eight-armed Durga sits in lalaitsana with her right leg dangling, holding a sword, bell, snake, damaru, shield, severed head and bowl. The base looks better quality than the figure and shows more wear so is probably older.d
S.India, 1800-1850.
A three-piece shrine-figure, base and arch. The figure does not belong to the rest of the shrine and has been fitted to a larger sub-base to fit the base slot. The eight-armed Durga sits in lalaitsana with her right leg dangling, holding a sword, bell, snake, damaru, shield, severed head and bowl. The base looks better quality than the figure and shows more wear so is probably older.d
S.India, 1800-1850.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Durga (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Cast brass |
| Brief description | Bronze figure; Durga Shrine, South India, 19th century. |
| Physical description | The deity has eight arms, and holds on the left trident, sword, snake and bell, and on the right, drum, shield, cup and water-pot; she is seated in 'sukhasana' posture on a double lotus throne and wears a garland of skulls. There is a 'torana' or flaming arch at the back. The conch shell (right) and wheel (left) symbols are usually associated with Vishnu and often held by Durga. Durga is a female deity who is associated with Shiva. She was invoked by the gods for her active and sometime violent assistance against demons, terrors and disasters. A three-piece shrine-figure, base and arch. The figure does not belong to the rest of the shrine and has been fitted to a larger sub-base to fit the base slot. The eight-armed Durga sits in lalaitsana with her right leg dangling, holding a sword, bell, snake, damaru, shield, severed head and bowl. The base looks better quality than the figure and shows more wear so is probably older.d S.India, 1800-1850. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Mrs A.M. Crawley-Boevey |
| Object history | Given by Mrs Crawley-Boevey, widow of Arthur William Crawley-Boevey (1845-1913). His collection of Indian artefacts, of which 83 objects were donated to the Museum, was made while he was serving as Senior Collector and Magistrate in the Bombay Civil Service in the District of Dharwar, in the former Bombay Presidency, 1891-92. Since Independence Dharwar has been known as Dharwad and is in the State of Karnataka. Mr Crawley-Boevey was talukdari settlement officer for Gujarat in 1879. Given by Mrs A.M. Crawley-Boevey, 24 Sloane Court, London, S.W. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project. RP 1914-1850M |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Bibliographic reference | Mitchell, A.G. 'Hindu Gods and Goddesses'. London : H.M.S.O, 1982. Plate 46. ISBN 011290372X |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IM.71-1914 |
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| Record created | January 3, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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