Shiva Vinadhara (Holder of the Lute)

Object Details

• Description

  The sculpture consists of a single standing four-armed figure on a large base; the upper arms of the figure hold an axe and a deer as is typical of South Indian Siva images. The base of the pedestal is square and supports a lotus stand and two short slender columns presumed to be attachments for other parts now missing.

• Provenance

  From at least 1960

  Dr. Samuel Eilenberg, London [1]

  To 1997

  Peter Marks Gallery, New York City, to 1997

  From 1997

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Peter Marks Gallery in 1997

  Notes:

  [1] The object has been in the United States from at least 1960, when it was exhibited in a show titled "Masterpieces of Asian Art from American Collections" at the Asia House galleries (according to Curatorial Note 4, Vidya Dehejia, July 15, 1997, in the object record). It was published in the accompanying catalog (see photocopies in the object file).

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Body Image (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)

  The Thief Who Stole My Heart: The Material Life of Sacred Bronzes in Chola India ca. 850-1280 (Monday, March 14, 2016 - Monday, January 30, 2017)

  Arts of the Indian Subcontinent and the Himalayas (October 16, 2004 to January 3, 2016)

  South Asian Sculpture (February 22, 2000 to June 18, 2003)

  Beyond the Legacy--Anniversary Acquisitions of the Freer Gallery of Art (October 11, 1998 to April 11, 1999)

  Sculpture of South Asia and the Himalayas (November 19, 1992 to July 9, 2017)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Dr. Samuel Eilenberg (1913-1998)

  Peter Marks Works of Art, Inc. (active 1960-2002)

• Origin

  Tamil Nadu state, India

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Sculpture

• On View

  Freer Gallery 01: Body Image: Arts of the Indian Subcontinent

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  900s

• Name

  Eilenberg, Samuel, Peter Marks Works of Art, Inc.

• Place

  Tamil Nadu state, India

• Topic

  Bronze, South Asian and Himalayan Art, Art, Sculpture, Chola dynasty (850 - 1280), Lotus, Shiva, Metal-work

• Culture

  Himalayan peoples, South Asians, Hindus

• Object Type

  Sculpture

• On View

  Yes