Physical description

Cast brass standing figure of Ravana, king of Lanka and chief of demons (rakshasas), who abducted Sita wife of Rama as described in the Ramayana. The Demon king has ten heads and twenty arms. The large central head wears a Deccani crown, with four smaller heads to the right and five to the left. He is wearing a dhoti with the ends from the back tucked up in front at the waist. The two main hands hold a bow and arrow, with nine smaller, empty hands off each arm. He stands on a low, simplified lotus above a flat square, which may have slotted into a larger base.

Place of Origin

Deccan (made)

Date

19th century (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown

Materials and Techniques

Brass, casting

Dimensions

Height: 15.6 cm, Weight: 1040 g

Object history note

Gift of Colonel Sir Herbert Sandford, RA. He served with the Indian Army and was closely associated with a number of international exhibitions including the 1862 International Exhibition, in London, and the International Exhibition in Melbourne for which he was Executive Commissioner. He gave a large number of objects to the South Kensington Museum in 1877 when he became Assistant Director until the following year.

Descriptive line

Figure of Ravana, cast brass, Deccan, 19th century

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Mitchell, A.G. 'Hindu Gods and Goddesses'. London : H.M.S.O, 1982. Plate 44. ISBN 011290372X

Materials

Brass

Techniques

Casting

Categories

Hinduism; Religion

Collection

South & South East Asia Collection