Hindu goddess, (possibly Gauri, Ganga or Saraswati); Sculpture, brass, cast chased, Jhansi, C18-19

Head of a Hindu river goddes Ganga. Hollow-cast The head is hollow-cast, by the cire-perdue process, and chased. Certain details cast separately. The twisted hair-queue and the jewels, simulated in metal, on the crown, ears and below the chin are all applied. On the forehead are marks representing the sun, the moon and the ether. The facial definitions and the hair are all indicated by incised lines.

Labelled as a Saraswati head from Jhansi, with no reasons given. This is relatively late poor quality image. The main part of the head was moulded in two pieces, as was the curled hair plait behind the head. The necklace was separately cast and riveted in place-more or less factory production. Dull brass colour, little or no wear.

Purchased from Mrs F. R. Innes, 59 Puteney Street, Bath

The head would have been used for religious purposes. It was found buried between Bina and Ujjain in Jhansi District (Uttar Pradesh) when excavations were being made for the construction of a light railway from Jhansi to the village of Ujjain, in 1897. The vendor's letter stated that the head had been 'found buried with many other mascots and some remains of a village.'
The head was described on its accession on 1922 as representing the Hindu river-goddess Ganga, and as having been used for ceremonial purposes as a staff head or for planting on a pile of Brahmanical books. Although it has also been described as representing Saraswati it is also possible that the head represents the goddess Gauri, as the form corresponds to a form of Gauri head worshipped especially in Maharashtra.

IM.38-1922