Gana

Gallery 330, Asian Art, third floor (McPhail Gallery)

Main Building

Gana

c. Mid- to late 13th century

Artist/maker unknown, Indian

Ganas - rotund, dwarflike figures - appear in many locations within Indian temple architecture. In the region of Orissa they frequently squat on the ledge at the top of a temple tower. Although they do not actually support anything, they appear to bear the weight of the temple's wide, flat crowning stone, the amalake, on their heads and shoulders. Lions and images of the presiding deity are sometimes placed along with ganas in this lofty location. At the famous Sun temple of Konarak, such figures also sit on the pyramidal roof of the front hall.

Gallery 330, Asian Art, third floor (McPhail Gallery)

Object Details

Title:

Gana
Temple corner tower-platform support, Squatting Baby-Bodied Gana, Corner platform support of a temple tower

Date:

c. Mid- to late 13th century

Artist:

Artist/maker unknown, Indian

Medium:

Khondalite

Dimensions:

14 1/4 × 9 × 7 3/4 inches (36.2 × 22.9 × 19.7 cm)

Classification:

Sculpture

Credit Line:

Purchased from the Stella Kramrisch Collection with funds contributed by R. Sturgis Ingersoll, Nelson Rockefeller, and other generous donors, the bequest of Sophia Cadwalader, the Popular Subscription Fund, and proceeds from the sale of deaccessioned works of art, 1956

Accession Number:

1956-75-40

Geography:

Made in Odisha, India, Asia Probably made in Konark, Odisha, India, Asia

Context:

Dynasty: Eastern Ganga Dynasty Period: Medieval Period (c. 600 - c. 1300)

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Gallery 330, Asian Art, third floor (McPhail Gallery)

Main Building

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