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Title

Shani, personification of the planet Saturn

late 10th century-early 11th century

Artists

Unknown Artist

  • Details

    Other Title
    Figure of Sani
    Place where the work was made
    Kurkihar → Bihar → 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

    Reproduction requests

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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

  • Exhibition history

    Shown in 3 exhibitions

  • Bibliography

    Referenced in 2 publications

  • 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.