Dancing Ganeśa, the Elephant-Headed God

After 1958 and before May 1963, likely sold by Alice Boney (Tokyo, Japan) to Earl and Irene Morse; 1972, gifted by Earl and Irene Morse (New York, NY) to Elvehjem Art Center [now called Chazen Museum of Art]. [Last researched by Chazen staff May 2023]

• "SchoolsMusuemsART (SMART) Project." Madison, WI: Madison Metropolitan School District, 2002.
• Leoshko, Janice. "Pala Period Indian Art in the Elvehjem's Collection." Elvehjem Museum of Art Bulletin, 1986-1987. Elvehjem Museum of Art (1987): 32-38. pp. 32-38
• Elvehjem Art Center. "Bulletin 1972-1973." Madison: Elvehjem Art Center (1973). illus. no. 20
• Elvehjem Museum of Art. "Handbook of the Collection." Elvehjem Museum of Art, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Madison, 1990. no. 12
• Elvehjem Museum of Art. "Elvehjem Museum of Art Bulletin/Annual Report 1986-1987." Elvehjem Museum of Art, 1988. p. 34
• Fogg Art Museum. "Indian Sculpture from the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Morse." Cambridge: Fogg Art Museum, 1963. p. 17, no. 14

• New Acquisitions from the Far East: Elvehjem Art Center, 11/5/1973–1/6/1974
• Indian Sculpture from the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Morse: Fogg Art Museum, 5/20/1963–8/3/1963

This sculpture is carved from dark stone and features Ganeśa, the Hindu deity with an elephant head, standing on a lotus leaf pedestal and centered within an arched frame background decorated with floral motifs. Ganeśa is in a dancing pose with eight arms raised at various heights around his body. In each hand, he holds an object including a tusk, lotus flower, rope, and battleaxe. He holds a dish of laddus (a spherical sweet treat) in his lower left hand which his trunk extends toward. Ganeśa wears jewelry around his neck and chest, armbands, and an elaborate headpiece that stands tall on his head. His soft, round belly hangs over a garment that drapes around his waist to his knee. The stone carving is damaged and one arm and his left leg are missing. Within the arched background, surrounding Ganeśa are four smaller figures. Two appear to float above Ganeśa’s head and two are seated on either side of the lotus pedestal. Each figure holds an object that may include a musical instrument or fan. The pedestal that forms the base of the sculpture is decorated with floral motifs, a small figure with hands in a prayer position, and a nondescript animal figure that may be a rat.

• Asia
• Sculpture
• Alt Text Accessible

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