Not currently on display at the V&A

Panel

19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is one of series of carved teakwood ceiling panels with reliefs of various Hindu deities. They came from a temple hall demolished in 1874 in Cochin, south-west India. Such halls (‘mandapa’) were used for theatrical, dance and music performances within a temple compound.

This deeply carved and richly polychromed panel shows a seated figure of Vishnu in four-armed form. He is holding his conch (‘sangka’), discus (‘cakra’), club (‘gada’) and flower, with an honorific canopy provided by a five-hooded cobra (‘naga’).

Vishnu is richly bejewelled, wearing ‘makara’ ear-ornaments and a ‘kirttimukha’ (face of glory) clasp on his waist belt. The representation of Vishnu’s discus is unusual. Here it has assumed the form of a ‘yantra’ mandala.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Carved teak wood
Brief description
Ceiling panel depicting Vishnu, polychromed wood, Cochin, south-west India, 19th century
Physical description
Carved teak wood ceiling panel with reliefs of various Hindu deities. The highly sculputed frieze represents the history of the marriage of Rama. The panels came from the portico of a Pagoda in Cochin, demolished in 1874. The complete ceiling decoration consisting of individual panels measured 21ft 6in by 5 ft 6in.
Production
Kerala, south-west India
Subjects depicted
Association
Summary
This is one of series of carved teakwood ceiling panels with reliefs of various Hindu deities. They came from a temple hall demolished in 1874 in Cochin, south-west India. Such halls (‘mandapa’) were used for theatrical, dance and music performances within a temple compound.

This deeply carved and richly polychromed panel shows a seated figure of Vishnu in four-armed form. He is holding his conch (‘sangka’), discus (‘cakra’), club (‘gada’) and flower, with an honorific canopy provided by a five-hooded cobra (‘naga’).

Vishnu is richly bejewelled, wearing ‘makara’ ear-ornaments and a ‘kirttimukha’ (face of glory) clasp on his waist belt. The representation of Vishnu’s discus is unusual. Here it has assumed the form of a ‘yantra’ mandala.
Bibliographic references
  • L'escultura en el temples indis : l'art de la devoció : exposició organitzada per la Fundació "La Caixa" i el Victoria & Albert Museum, Londres. [Barcelona: Obra social, Fundació "la Caixa", c2007 Number: 9788476649466 p.229, Cat.182
  • Michell, George (ed.) Living Wood: Sculptural Traditions of Southern India, Bombay, 1992 p.187, Cat.93
Collection
Accession number
IS.2564D-1883

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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