tablet (plaque (ritual & belief: representations))

General view of whole of Horniman Museum object no 0.34
General view of whole of Horniman Museum object no 0.34

Black stone tablet, probably basalt, depicting Vishnu in high relief, with eight avatars around the edge. He has a high crown, and four arms, in which he holds a shankha or conch shell (lower left hand); torch (upper right hand); and chakra (upper left). His lower right hand is open in a gesture of reassurance, with a flower on the palm. He stands on a lotus platform. Below is Garuda flanked by women attendants with offerings. At the top of the surrounding arch is a kirtimukha, with an apsars on each side of the arch. The figure is carved in high relief. It is not part of temple architecture but as a free standing figure.

object
MUSEUM NUMBER
0.34
Date
12th century; 19th century
PLACE
COLLECTION
MEASUREMENTS
overall: 780 mm x 335 mm x 97 mm
MATERIAL/TECHNIQUE
stone; basalt
CATEGORY
Anthropology: Ethnography
LOCATION
In storage
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Collection Information

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