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On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Figure

early 20th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Tamil Nadu (made)

Kamadhenu or 'Wish-fulfilling cow'. Part woman, part cow, with the wings of an eagle and the tail of a peacock.

Object details

Categories
Hinduism
Ceremonial Objects
Sculpture
Object type
Figure
Materials and techniques
Polychromed wood
Brief description
Figure of a Kamadhenu or wish-fulfilling cow, painted wood, Tamil Nadu, early 20th century
Physical description
Kamadhenu or 'Wish-fulfilling cow'. Part woman, part cow, with the wings of an eagle and the tail of a peacock.
Dimensions
  • Height: 93cm
  • Length: 92cm
  • Width: 35cm
Gallery label
(06/06/2011)
Wish-Fulfilling Cow (Kamadhenu)

About 1900–50

In Hindu mythology a kamadhenu is a miraculous cow
who can give her owner whatever he desires.This example
and its pair are hybrid creatures, with the body of a cow,
the head of a woman, the wings of an eagle and the tail of
a peacock.They were used in the great street processions
performed during south Indian temple festivals.

Painted wood
Southern India (Tamil Nadu)


Museum no. IS.139-2007
Object history
This figure along with IS.138-2007, would have been used as a vehicle or vahana for images of gods and goddesses carried in Hindu temple festival processions.
Subjects depicted
Cow
Woman
Mythology
Wings
Bibliographic references
  • Michell, George (ed.) Living Wood: Sculptural Traditions of Southern India, Bombay, 1992 pp.15-28, Cats.4-5
  • Jackson, A: Arts of Asia, vol. 45, no. 5, September - October 2015, p.63
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
IS.139-2007

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Record createdJune 25, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O438406/figure-unknown/
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