An exceptional tenth-century Chola bronze statue of the Hindu god Shiva is now on view in the Brooklyn Museum’s Asian Art galleries. This important addition to the collection was presented as a gift in honor of Amy G. Poster, who retired from her position as Lisa and Bernard Selz Curator of Asian Art in 2006, after more than thirty-five years of service to the Museum.
Chola tenth-century bronzes are the most sought-after Indian sculptures, highly prized for the perfect balance between the organic and ornamental qualities and are rarely available for acquisition. The image of Shiva, tentatively dated to about a.d. 970, originally appeared in the West in the 1960s and was once in the collection of John D. Rockefeller III.
The primary donor for the bronze is the Asian Art Council of the Brooklyn Museum. Additional support for the purchase is drawn from the Museum’s acquisition funds, including those given by Dr. Samuel Eilenberg and Dr. Bertram H. Schaffner.
The sculpture of Shiva, the God of Destruction, stands twenty-five inches high; he holds a battle-axe and an antelope in two of his four hands. Shiva’s battle-axe symbolizes his victory over dissident forces, while the antelope refers to his role as Lord of the Animals. As in other tenth-century Chola bronzes, the figure’s jewelry is understated, which emphasizes his powerful body, the matted hair piled atop his head, and the crescent moon that serves as his crown. The bronze has not been restored or recut, so it retains its original patina.
This Chandrashekhara image, Lord of the Crescent Moon, was originally made for worship in a temple sanctuary. This is evident because after receiving years of anointment and touching by devotees, the statue’s face and chest are more worn than its back. The figure was also made for display in religious processions, attached to a cart by the holes in its base. -- www.brooklynmuseum.org
Comment and add to the story without registration, but keep the comments meaningful please. Links are not accepted.
