Goddess (Mata)

Historical period(s)
19th-20th century
Medium
Brass
Dimensions
H x W x D: 14.9 x 8.6 x 4.3 cm (5 7/8 x 3 3/8 x 1 11/16 in)
Geography
India, Chhattisgarh state, Bastar district
Credit Line
Purchase — Smithsonian Unrestricted Trust Funds
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Accession Number
S1990.8
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Metalwork, Sculpture
Type

Figure: goddess (Mata)

Keywords
Danteshwari, India
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Label

The Mother Goddess, or Mata, has many forms. In shrines throughout Bastar District, the Gond people worship her as the goddess Danteshwari. A Gond legend states that Danteshwair has thirty-two sisters. Each community of the Gonds has its own goddess, usually identified as one of these divine sisters. Bronze sculptures of the goddesses are made by non-Gond craftspeople and may be virtually interchangeable with one another in style. It is often impossible to identify the image of these specific deities out of context. They gain their individuality only during puja.

Collection Area(s)
South Asian and Himalayan Art
Web Resources
Whistler's Neighborhood
Google Cultural Institute
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