Sridevi

11th century · Figure · 54 × 21.6 cm

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Victoria and Albert Museum

Londra, Regno Unito

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Verificato: 7 giorni fa
Ultimo cambio di stato: 25 set 2026
Fonte: I dati di collezione del museo stesso

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About the sculpture

This standing figure of Sridevi was designed to accompany Vishnu and her companion Bhudevi. When displayed in a shrine, these three named dieties would be shown together as a group. Sridevi would be placed to the right of Vishnu, whilst Bhudevi would be to his left. When the figures were to be taken out or used for a procession, they would however each travel alone in a dedicated palanquin or temple car, thus asserting and stressing their separate independent identities.

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Here Sridevi stands with her left leg slightly flexed in the abhanga pose,whilst her left hand is poised in the kataka mudra or ring gesture around the lotus bud that she holds. She is adorned with jewellery, her tali necklace and karanda-mukuta or conical crown are of particular note. The tali necklace is a symbol of marriage and is seen here worn above her other necklaces.The breastband that Sridevi wears enables the viewer to distinguish her from her Bhudevi, who is depicted bare-breasted.

This figure stands on a circular lotus pedestal, which was cast in one piece and then affixed to a rectangular base. The base has two upright projections that could support an arch shaped surround (now missing), or hold rings to secure a cord during processional use.

The patination of the bronze confirms that this is an excavated icon. It formed part of a cache of bronze images that were discovered at Coimbatore, and presented to Lord Curzon of Kedleston during his term as the Viceroy of India (1898 and 1905).

Victoria and Albert Museum