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Details
- Other Title
- Figure of Sani
- Place where the work was made
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Kurkihar
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Bihar
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India
- Period
- Pala Period circa 760 - 1142 → India
- Date
- late 10th century-early 11th century
- Media category
- Sculpture
- Materials used
- copper alloy
- Dimensions
- 14.5 cm
- Signature & date
Not signed. Not dated.
- Credit
- Gift of the Margaret Hannah Olley Art Trust 1991
- Location
- Not on display
- Accession number
- 267.1991
- Copyright
- Share
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About
Shani (Saturn) the slow mover, is the son of the solar deity Rudra (Siva-Rudra). In this sensuous small bronze of Shani, the forward and backward thrust of the legs, the motioning of the arms and hands, and the rhythmic sideward turning of the relaxed frontal torso combine to create a graceful posture symbolic of contained energy and celestial movement. Large numbers of bronzes were produced in the Pala period, most of them for private worship.
Asian Art Department, AGNSW, October 1991
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Exhibition history
Shown in 3 exhibitions
Rare examples of ancient & fine art, Caspian Gallery, Paddington, 16 Apr 1991–25 Apr 1991
Great gifts, great patrons, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 17 Aug 1994–19 Oct 1994
Walking with gods, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 01 Jun 2019–05 Jan 2020
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Bibliography
Referenced in 2 publications
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Stewart Giles, Rare examples of ancient & fine art, Sydney, Apr 1991. cat. no.1
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Ulrich von Schroeder, Indo-Tibetan Bronzes, Hong Kong, 1981, 284 (illus.). cat. no. 70B
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Provenance
Collection Beurdeley Matthews, London, 1981, London/England, as published in 'Indo-Tibetan Bronzes' by U. von Schroeder, London 1981.
Stewart Giles, pre Apr 1991, Adelaide/South Australia/Australia, purchased through Aegidea Ancient and Fine Art (art dealership), Adelaide and Brian Moore (art dealership), Sydney by Margaret Olley and donated to the Art Gallery New South Wales, Sydney, Oct 1991.