-
Casket
unknown - Enlarge image
Casket
- Place of origin:
Mangalore, India (made)
- Date:
ca. 1850 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
unknown (production)
- Materials and Techniques:
Carved sandalwood, with ivory fittings
- Museum number:
17-1852
- Gallery location:
British Galleries, room 122f, case 5
Object Type
Caskets, cabinets and boxes of ornately carved sandalwood such as this one were made in large quantities in Mysore and the surrounding area. These showpieces attest both to the virtuosity of local carvers and serve a function. The interior of this casket, for example, is fitted with a number of lidded compartments, and it was probably designed as a jewellery box.
People
Articles of this type were manufactured by craftsmen of the Gudigar caste. The term gudigar is thought to derive from the Sanskrit for either carver (kuttka) or temple (gudi), and was likely to have been inspired by the caste's hereditary role as temple painters and carvers working in wood, ivory and stone.
Historical Associations
The casket was displayed at the Great Exhibition of 1851 and was acquired by the Museum of Ornamental Art for £30 10s. At the time of purchase it was considered to be an exceptionally fine example of Indian sandalwood carving and representative of the ability of Indian craftsmen to successfully marry ornament with form and materials.
Subjects Depicted
Motifs carved on caskets of this type typically featured the pantheon of Hindu gods and scenes from the great Hindu epics. The lid of this casket depicts Shiva and his consort Parvati (Umamaheshvara) riding on his sacred bull, Nandi, flanked by a pair of dancers. The front, back and sides of the casket are carved with a frieze of figures within arches. These cannot all be identified but include the ten avatars or incarnations of Vishnu, and characters from the Ramayana.
