Plaque with Local Deity Ghantakarna and Spouse
c. 1600
Medium
Gilt bronze
Dimensions
7.3 × 5.4 × 1.3 cm (2 7/8 × 2 1/8 × 1/2 in.)
Classification
bronze
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
144739
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This small plaque, meant for a miniature shrine, most likely in the home, portrays Ghantakarna (“Bell-Eared”), a folk deity who became a manifestation or a companion of Kumara, the God of War. Like Kumara, Ghantakarna is seated on his vehicle, the peacock, while his spouse sits on his knee, supported by her vehicle, a crouching man. He holds various attributes in three of his arms: peacock feathers, a rooster, and a serpent. His fourth arm makes the gesture of reassurance. This folk deity, popul...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...