About the Work

Parvati, the principal goddess in the Hindu pantheon and consort to Lord Shiva, symbolises the power of transcendent knowledge, beauty, and fertility. She stands in an animated tribangha pose on a double lotus pedestal. Her extended left arm takes the attitude of lolahasta, mimicking a cow’s tail.

Her raised right hand in katakamukha mudra once held a separately cast waterlily, which denotes grace and beauty. Parvati wears a fitted dhoti that is finely decorated with a waving pattern in low relief. Her dress is secured by an ornate belt with a clasp taking the shape of a monster face, Kirtimukha. The sacred Brahmanical cord draped across her torso is delicate and extends over the edge of her garment at her right hip. Typical of her image, Parvati is adorned with a dazzling array of jewellery.

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Provenance

PROVENANCE
Private collection, United Kingdom, until 1983.
Jaap Polak, The Netherlands, 1983-1984.
Private collection, The Netherlands, 1984-2016.

Literature

PUBLISHED
Sotheby's, Tribal Art, Tibetan, Nepalese, Indian and South-East Asian art, London, November 1983, lot 303.
Exhibition catalogue, Delft fair, Oct-Nov. 1984, J. Polak, stand no. 35.
M. Nies, Faith & Devotion, Gods, Saints and Guardians in Asian Art, Marcel Nies Oriental Art, Antwerp, 2016, pp. 48-5.

RELATED LITERATURE
D. R. Thapar, Icons in Bronze: An Introduction to Indian Metal Images, Mumbai, 1961, no.LXIb, pp.100-101.
G. Rao, Elements of Hindu Iconography, Vol. II, Uttar Pradesh, 1971, plate XVII.
P. Pal, The Sensuous Immortals. A Selection of Sculptures from the Pan-Asian Collection, Cambridge, Massachussets and London, 1977, p.113.
A. Neven, Beeldhouwkunst uit Indie, exh. cat. Generale Bankmaatschappij, Brussels, 1978, no.102, p.180.
A. Neven, New Studies into Indian and Himalayan Sculpture, Galerie de Ruimte, Eersel, 1980, no.201, pp.129-130.
C. Sivaramamurti, South Indian Bronzes, New Delhi, 1981, nos.80a, 80b.
P.R. Srinivasan, ‘Bronzes of South India,’ in Bulletin of the Madras Government Museum, 1994, fig.293.