Figure Item Number: Eg95 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Sculpture of Shiva. Male with four arms dancing in an ring of flames; stands with left leg on back of a small demon figure; leg on the right raised in front of other leg, knee bent. Upper hand on left holds a kettle drum and the upper hand to the right presents a flame. The lower hand at left is held in the abhayamudra gesture with the wrist encircled by a serpent. The lower hand to the right has wrist bent across the body pointing down to the leg. Supported on a low rectangular pedestal on a lotus base.
History Of Use
For daily use in a small temple or household; the form is derived from famous Early Medieval depictions of Shiva Natesa.
Cultural Context
daily worship
Iconographic Meaning
Shiva, as Nataraja or Natesa (Lord of Dance, stands on the dwarf demon of ignorance (Apasmara or Muyalaka). He makes the abhayamudra gesture, symbolizing freedom from fear. The drum symbolizes sound, the first of the fine elements which announces creation. The raised hands of the figure represent protection, the ring of flames symbolizes destruction, salvation is symbolized by the raised foot, and refuge to the human soul is symbolized by the foot trampling the dwarf-demon.
Item History
- Made in India between 1700 and 1800
- Collected between 1955 and 1973
- Owned by Victor Hardy before December 11, 1979
- Received from Victor Hardy (Donor) on December 11, 1979
What
- Name
- Figure
- Identification Number
- Eg95
- Type of Item
- figure
- Material
- bronze metal
- Manufacturing Technique
- cast and incised
- Overall
- height 31.5 cm, width 27.0 cm, depth 9.3 cm
Who
- Culture
- South India
- Previous Owner
- Victor Hardy
- Received from
- Victor Hardy (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- India
When
- Creation Date
- between 1700 and 1800
- Collection Date
- between 1955 and 1973
- Ownership Date
- before December 11, 1979
- Acquisition Date
- on December 11, 1979
Other
- Item Classes
- metalwork; carvings & sculpture
- Condition
- good
- Current Location
- Case 104
- Accession Number
- 0580/0056