Object Details
- Label
- Elephant-headed Ganesha, the god of new beginnings and the remover of obstacles, is perhaps the most popular god in India. Hindus regard him with affection and invoke him at the start of every new project, whether it be cooking a feast or writing an exam paper; he is also placed at the entrance to temples so that worship may commence with him.
- This sculpture displays the ornate carving and exuberant decoration characteristic of art created under the Hoysala dynasty (1042-1346). The decorated floral arch surrounding the sculpture suggests that it once occupied a cell or niche in a temple.
- Provenance
- ?-?
- William H. Wolff, Inc., New York, NY, method of acquisition unknown [1]
- By 1982-1987
- Arthur M. Sackler, purchased from William H. Wolff, Inc. [2]
- From 1987
- Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of Dr. Arthur M. Sackler [3]
- Notes:
- [1] See Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Gift Inventory, number S-3000, lists the Wolff stock number “WW 02/931F” as a dealer number, copy in object file.
- [2] See note 1. Peter Marks evaluated the work in 1982.
- [3] Pursuant to the agreement between Dr. Arthur M. Sackler and the Smithsonian Institution, dated July 28, 1982, legal title of the donated objects was transferred to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery on September 11, 1987.
- Research Completed October 20, 2022
- Collection
- Arthur M. Sackler Collection
- Exhibition History
- The Art of Knowing in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Himalayas (March 25, 2023 - ongoing)
- Gods, Companions, and Devotees (October 14, 2017 to March 13, 2020)
- Sculpture of South Asia and the Himalayas (May 4, 1988 to July 9, 2017)
- Previous custodian or owner
- William H. Wolff, Inc. (1906-1991)
- Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Arthur M. Sackler
- 12th-13th century
- Period
- Hoysala dynasty
- Accession Number
- S1987.960
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- Sculpture
- Medium
- Chloritic schist
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 88.6 x 53.7 x 33.7 cm (34 7/8 x 21 1/8 x 13 1/4 in)
- Origin
- Halebid, Karnataka state, India
- Related Online Resources
- Google Cultural Institute
- See more items in
- Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection
- Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
- Topic
- Ganesha
- Hoysala dynasty (1110 - 1327)
- India
- conch shell
- axe
- South Asian and Himalayan Art
- Record ID
- fsg_S1987.960
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ye37eaa3c8a-ec41-446d-9766-a79e72c3e77d
