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21. Ganesha Java, Madjapahit 14th c. Andesite height 71,5 cm. |
Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati, is one of the most beloved deities in the Hindu pantheon. As an embodiment of wisdom and remover of obstacles he is considered the god of auspiciousness and success. According to Hindu legend, Parvati made Ganesha from the scrapings of her skin, giving him the form of a comely youth and setting him to guard her door awhile she bathed. When Shiva arrived at his wife’s house Ganesha failed to recognize him and sought to prevent his entry. A battle ensued in which Shiva struck off his son’s head. To allay his wife’s sorrow Shiva promised to replace Ganesha’s head with that of the first living being he met, which chanced to be an elephant. Seated on an open lotus, the soles of his feet touching, Ganesha is portrayed with a human body and an elephant’s head. He is crowned and wears a chain, bracelets, and ornaments. A cobra-shaped upawita is coiled around his sacred cord, alluding to Shiva in his form as Bhairava. In relief on the base are two vases of flowers, a common motif in Madjapahit art, though the eleven human attendants standing around the base are more unusual. On the back is a striking image of Kala, the god of time, represented as a demon head. The power and prosperity of East Java reached its zenith under the kings of Majapahit (1294- 1478), who also controlled parts of Borneo and Sumatra. The period gave rise to a post-classic romantic style in which the pure Indian tradition was almost submerged beneath an increasingly Indonesian aesthetic. The images created in this period evince infinite charm and freedom of artistic imagination. The present sculpture has a concentrated form and displays many characteristics typical of the period, such as the style of the jewellery, the manner in which Ganesha sits, the vases of flowers and the lotus motifs. The use of andesite, a hard volcanic stone is likewise typical of the Majapahit period. Ganesha is portrayed with great freedom of imagination, with powerful movements, an upright body and radiating a mythical and powerful energy. The concept comprise of remarkable volume and well executed features, enhancing the deity’s character. The masterfully-carved head of kala on the back of the base increases the powerful aspect of this sculpture. The hard stone with fine weathered patina complements the aesthetic quality of this remover of obstacles. Provenance: Collection Family Ferrejolo, Rome, Italy. Art Loss Register Certificate, Reference S00003273. W. Cohn, Indische Plastik, Bruno Cassirer Verlag Berlin, Berlin, 1923, p.168-169. East Java, Ganesha, Bara, Blihar, 1239, height 150 cm. |