shiva, chola bronze, c. 950–60

Shiva and Parvati

Archival Details

  • Tradition: Chola Bronze
  • Period: c. 950–60
  • Medium: bronze
  • Dimensions: Base: 21.6 x 79.5 x 24.9 cm (8 1/2 x 31 5/16 x 9 13/16 in.); Part 1: 81.9 x 48.7 cm (32 1/4 x 19 3/16 in.); Part 2: 65.1 x 16.5 cm (25 5/8 x 6 1/2 in.)
  • Credit line: John L. Severance Fund
  • Source: The Cleveland Museum of Art, accession 1961.94

Chola-period bronzes were cast in South India, chiefly under the Chola dynasty (9th–13th century), using the lost-wax (cire perdue) process. Temple workshops in Tamil Nadu produced processional images of Shaiva and Vaishnava deities that were carried in festival rituals, and the tradition is widely regarded as a high point of Indian metal sculpture for its fluid modeling and iconographic precision.

Artwork Details

Artist

John L. Severance Fund

Tradition

Chola Bronze

File

2318 × 2560 px · JPG · 403 KB

Accession no.

1961.94

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