{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O114550"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O114550/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9846/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK9846/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AK9846","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O114550/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O114550","accessionNumber":"IS.22-1980","objectType":"Figure","titles":[{"title":"Dvarapala","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Wrathful demons tamed and converted to the prevailing faith are a regular feature of temple entrances. Their apparent demonic nature, witnessed by their wild countenance - wide flaring eyes, projecting fangs and coarse features – make them most suitable for their role as guardians of the temple threshold. They typically stand in a casual, passive posture, perhaps leaning on their weapon of choice, a massive club, or, as in this example, the figure is highly animated, having assumed a pose borrowed from theatre and temple dance. It is a fearsome posture, intended to strike fear into the hearts of the disbelievers. \r\n\r\nThe<i> dvarapala</i> is elaborately dressed, in the manner of a Keralan temple dancer, and wears a particularly flamboyant head dress directly inspired by the tradition of Keralan theatre. The dancing posture is that of a warrior, intended to intimidate his opponent, as are the snakes which entwine his club. His braided hair flies outwards as he dances, his wide eyes flaring and his open mouth revealing two fangs which demonstrate his demonic origins. The expressiveness of this figure is in keeping with the temple arts in Kerala, which tend to stress the emotive content above other sentiments.","physicalDescription":"Figure of a <i>Dvarapala</i>, carved from teak. He has prominent canine teeth (a Shaivite feature) and large staring eyes.  He wears an elaborate head dress (<i>mukuta</i>) with long braided tresses swirling round his shoulders and is bedecked in heavy jewellery. He stands in a dancing posture, the left hand empty and held aloft, the right arm hanging down and holding a long mace held downwards, with a cobra's head swallowing the head. The raised and flexed right leg extends round the shaft of the mace. The carving is broken off at the left knee and below the cobra's head.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Teak","id":"AAT12453"},{"text":"Paint","id":"AAT15029"},{"text":"Gesso","id":"AAT14952"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Teak with traces of gesso and paint","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"},{"text":"Figures","id":"THES274372"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2006AK9846"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"47B (VA)","id":"THES49796"},"free":"","case":"BNC","shelf":"4","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Figure","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Kerala","id":"x29830"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"17th century-18th century","earliest":"1600-01-01","latest":"1800-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"MA/1/S2887/3","id":"ARC183694"},"association":"Archive record"}],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"128","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"59","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"26","unit":"cm","qualifier":"maximum","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"148","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"With plinth","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Bought from Spink and Son\r\n\r\nV&A Registered File 80/612","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Temple guardian (<i>dvarapala</i>), teak, Kerala, south-west India, 17th-18th century","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"S Kramrisch et al, <u>The Arts and Crafts of Travancore</u>, London, 1998\r\nH Krishna Sastri, <u>South Indian Images,</u> Madras, 1916\r\nGuy, John, <u>Indian Temple Sculpture</u>, London, V&A Publications, 2007, p.132, pl.147.\r\nISBN 9781851775095.\r\nGuy, John (ed.), <u>L’Escultura en els Temples Indis: L’Art de la Devocio</u>, Barcelona : Fundacio ‘La Caixa’, 2007. ISBN 9788476649466. p.85, cat. 45."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[{"text":"Spink & Son Ltd","id":"A9225"}],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Hinduism","id":"AAT73727"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Temple Door Guardian (Dvarapala)\r\n1600–1800\r\n\r\nA wrathful demon, tamed and converted to Hinduism, is a suitable\r\nguardian for a temple threshold. This example, fanged and highly\r\nanimated, was meant to terrify any enemies of the temple god.\r\nHe holds a club and has assumed a warrior pose borrowed from\r\ntheatre and temple dance. His flamboyant headdress is also\r\ninspired by theatre costume.\r\nIn Kerala, wood was widely used instead of stone in temple\r\narchitecture and sculpture.\r\n\r\nTeak with traces of gesso and paint\r\nSouth-west India (Kerala)\r\n\r\nMuseum no. IS.22-1980\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n","date":{"text":"06/06/2011","earliest":"2011-06-06","latest":"2011-06-06"}},{"text":"DOOR GUARDIAN\r\nWood with traces of polychromy\r\nKerala, South India\r\nCirca 17th century\r\n\r\nWood, notably teak, was widely used in both temple architecture and sculpture in Kerala. The earliest datable temple with wooden sculpture in situ was dedicated in 1214 and its continued use is visible throughout the temples of Kerala. This door guardian (dvarapala) has demonic features and assumes an aggressive posture borrowed from dance. In its original state this sculpture would have been painted in rich colours over a gesso ground.\r\n\r\nIS 22-1980","date":{"text":"c. 1995-2000","earliest":"1990-01-01","latest":"2000-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["IS.22-1980"],"accessionNumberNum":"22","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":1980,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LW6180"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-07","recordCreationDate":"2005-07-28","availableToBook":false}}