Object Details
Culture
Cambodia
Date
12th century
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
Height: 8 3/8 inches (21.3 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired through the Museum Associates Purchase Fund
Object
Number
63.264
This bronze sculpture of Ganesha is representative of artistic achievements during the Angkor period(…)
This bronze sculpture of Ganesha is representative of artistic achievements during the Angkor period (ninth to fifteenth centuries). Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, is one of the most popular gods in Hinduism, a patron of wisdom and all creative activities. Here he sits in the attitude of yogic meditation with his legs crossed. In his lower right hand he holds a broken-off tusk to be used as a plow, symbolizing agriculture. The snake that winds across his belly and up his left shoulder has just emerged from its sloughed off skin, representing rebirth. Ganesha’s crown of hair can be seen above his diadem and the rhombic third-eye appears just above his trunk. His characteristic paunch results from his father Siva’s having permitted him to be the first to eat the food offerings presented by believers. (“Highlights from the Collection: 45 Years at the Johnson,” curated by Stephanie Wiles and presented at the Johnson Museum January 27–July 22, 2018)
