Artist: Unknown Artist/Maker (German, 18Th Century)
Date: 1700
Museum: Museum Of Christian Art (Goa, India)
Technique: Carved
In Hinduism, nagas and naginas, are secondary aquatic divinities who live close to the gods they serve, while also assisting mankind. After Christianity was introduced in India, nagas came to figure on carving work on altars and in furniture, textiles and silverware. The same happened with their female counterparts, the naginas, who are distinguished by their voluminous breasts. Nagas and naginas lent Indo-Portuguese decoration a distinctive and exotic type of ornamentation.In these examples, the nagas are easily distinguished by the absence of breasts. On their heads rest basins of plenty (purnaghata). The fruit contained therein is similar to the crown of jewels and foliage that naginas sported in their natural habitats – tanks, fountains, streams and even oceans. Leafy skirts are a common form of clothing. Also common are the scaly tails which bifurcate and intertwine to form two points. It is also interesting that in this particular example of carving for a church the nagas’ faces and hair have been given a treatment very similar to that of Indo-Portuguese angels
Artist |
|
|---|---|
Download |
