Ganesha Seated on a Lion Throne

ca. 10th century

Not on view

This chubby Ganesha wears a necklace of bells—typically worn by children in India—while using his trunk to reach for a bowl of sweetmeats. He holds his broken tusk as if it were a cornucopia, reflecting his role as a bringer of abundance. He sits in royal ease on a throne flanked by a pair of lions that make direct reference to the vehicle (vahana) of his mother, the goddess Durga.

Artwork Details

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References

Title: Ganesha Seated on a Lion Throne
Date: ca. 10th century
Culture: India
Medium: Schist
Dimensions: H. (image, from top of throne to bottom of base) 13 1/2 in. (34.3 cm); Gr. W. 10 1/4 in. (26 cm); Gr. D. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm)
Tang: H. 6 in. (15.2 cm); Gr. W. 4 5/8 in. (10.8 cm); W. at bottom 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm)
Classification: Sculpture
Credit Line: Gift of William and Bette-Ann Spielman, 1985
Object Number: 1985.402
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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