Head of Addorsed Maheshvara
Unknown Artist
ca. 6th century
Medium
Stone, probably chlorite
Dimensions
H. 5 1/8 in. (13 cm); W. 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm); D. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm)
Classification
Sculpture
Culture
Northern Pakistan (Brahmanical post-Gupta)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Anonymous Gift, 2014
Accession Number
2014.687
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold the *Head of Addorsedheshvara*, a captivating6th-century stone sculpture northern Pakistan, crafted in the Brahmanical post-Gupta style This small yet intricate piece (just over 5 inches high) depicts the serene visage of Maheshvara—another name for the Hindu god Shiva, the " Lord"—rendered as addorsed figures, facing outward back-to-back. Likely carved from chlorite, soft gray stone prized in ancient Indian sculpture for its fine carvability, it exemplifies the technical finesse of regional artisans in the Gandhara region, where Greco-Roman influences once mingled with local traditions...