Shiva Who Bears the Crescent Moon

11th century

Indian

On View

Indian and Southeast Asian Art, Level 1, North Wing

Shiva Who Bears the Crescent Moon: 1 of Collection Gallery

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Provenance

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Exhibition History

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Published References

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Catalogue Raisonné

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Credit Line for Reproduction

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About the Artwork

This small sculpture of Shiva would have been paired with a smaller image of Parvati. Here Shiva is portrayed as the pillar, animator, and light of the universe. He is associated with a host of identifying emblems, the most important of which is the auspicious crescent moon over his right ear. The moon is the symbol of cyclical time and the vessel of soma, the drink of immortality and the water of life. Although Shiva's stance is static and erect, there is a youthful liveliness in the form and features, consistent with his association with the principle of life itself, its breath and fire.

Title Shiva Who Bears the Crescent Moon

Artwork Date 11th century

Artist ----------

Life Dates ----------

Nationality Please note: Definitions for nationality may vary significantly, depending on chronology and world events. Some definitions include: Belonging to a people having a common origin based on a geography and/or descent and/or tradition and/or culture and/or religion and/or language, or sharing membership in a legally defined nation. Indian

Culture Please note: Cultures may be defined by the language, customs, religious beliefs, social norms, and material traits of a group. Indian

Medium Copper alloy

Dimensions Overall: 18 1/4 × 11 × 4 inches (46.4 × 27.9 × 10.2 cm) Installed: 21 7/8 × 11 × 4 1/2 inches (55.6 × 27.9 × 11.4 cm)

Classification Sculpture

Department Asian Art

Credit Founders Society Purchase, Acquisitions Fund

Accession Number This unique number is assigned to an individual artwork as part of the cataloguing process at the time of entry into the permanent collection. Most frequently, accession numbers begin with the year in which the artwork entered the museum’s holdings. For example, 2008.3 refers to the year of acquisition and notes that it was the 3rd of that year. The DIA has a few additional systems—no longer assigned—that identify specific donors or museum patronage groups. 80.38

Markings

Inscriptions ------

Provenance

(Peter Marks, New York, New York, USA)

1980-present, purchase by the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)

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Exhibition History

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The exhibition history of a number of objects in our collection only begins after their acquisition by the museum, and may reflect an incomplete record.

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Published References

Pal, Pratapaditya. "The Moon-Crested God and Related Images," Bulletin of the DIA 59, no. 2/3 (1981): pp. 77-84, p. 76 (ill.).

Bulletin of the DIA 59, no. 4 (1981): p. 112 (ill.).

Kramrisch, Stella. Manifestations of Shiva. Philadelphia Museum of Art. 1981, p. 108, no. 88, (ill.).

Mitchell, S.W. "The Asian Collection at the Detroit Institute of Arts," Orientations, vol. 13, no. 5 (May 1982): pp. 14-36, (fig. 23).

Peter Marks Gallery, 25th Anniversary: 25 Selcted Works. 1985, (ill.).

The Detroit Institute of Arts: A Visitor's Guide. DIA. Detroit, 1995, p. 148, (ill.).

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Catalogue Raisoneé

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Credit Line for Reproduction

Indian, Shiva Who Bears the Crescent Moon, 11th century, copper alloy. Detroit Institute of Arts, Founders Society Purchase, Acquisitions Fund, 80.38.