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| Ganesha |
Period:Chola period (880–1279)
Date:12th century
Culture:India (Tamil Nadu)
Medium:Copper alloy
Dimensions:H. 25 1/2 in (64.8 cm)
Classification:Sculpture
Credit Line:Gift of Florence and Herbert Irving, 2015
The potbellied, elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha, son of Shiva and Parvati, is venerated throughout India. He is believed to bestow success and abundance through his removal of obstacles. Before any important task is begun, an offering is made to Ganesha. His origins are probably tribal, and his elephant head may derive from masks used in rites of passage. Here, his upper left hand holds a lasso; the upper right, a battle-ax; the lower left, a sweet; and the lower right, one of his own tusks, which he broke off in a fit of anger and hurled at the moon.
Provenance
[ R. H. Ellsworth Ltd. , New York, 1982, sold to the Irvings in 1988]; Florence and Herbert Irving , New York (1988 until 2015; donated to MMA)
Copyright Image
https://images.metmuseum.org
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