{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O24811"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O24811/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AV1433/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AV1433/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AV1433","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O24811/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O24811","accessionNumber":"IS.40-1988","objectType":"Figure group","titles":[{"title":"Durga slaying Mahisa","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This small copper image shows the Hindu goddess Durga slaying the Buffalo demon Mahisa. Durga is the embodiment of female energy. This power was the only force strong enough to destroy Mahisa, who threatened world order and the authority of the other gods.\r\n\r\nThe sculpture is an extraordinary example of early Nepalese repousse skills. In this technique the metalworker works from the back or underside of the metal to create the image in relief.\r\n\r\nThis representation of Durga should have four arms (one is missing here). The four-armed form is rarely seen in Nepal beyond the 11th century, when she typically appears with eight or more arms. The energy of the goddess trampling the buffalo is awesome. Her raised foot would have rested on a lion of the type represented by the ivory throne legs on display in the V&A (Museum nos. IS 269 & A-1960).","physicalDescription":"Durga-Mahisasuramardini, revealed at the moment when the buffalo demon Mahisa metamorphoses to reveal himself in human form.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"copper","id":"AAT11020"}],"techniques":[{"text":"repousse","id":"AAT54023"},{"text":"gilding","id":"AAT53789"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Repousse copper with traces of gilt","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Hinduism","id":"THES48941"}],"styles":[{"text":"Licchavi","id":"AAT18826"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2006AV1433"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"47A (VA)","id":"THES49797"},"free":"","case":"CA0010","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Figure","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Nepal","id":"x30053"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"9th century-10th century","earliest":"0800-01-01","latest":"1000-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"10.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"10","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"1.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"This image of the Hindu goddess Durga slaying the Buffalo demon Mahisa is an extraordinary example of early Nepalese repousse skills. Durga is represented with four arms, a form rarely seen in Nepal beyond the 11th century when she typically appears with eight or more arms. The energy of the goddess trampling the buffalo is awesome. Her raised foot would have rested on a lion of the type represented by the ivory throne legs on display ( IS 269 & A-1960) in the V&A.","briefDescription":"Durga slaying Mahisa, repoussé copper with traces of gilding, Nepal, 9th-10th century, Late Licchavi/ Transitional period","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Guy, John: 'Indian Temple Sculpture', London, V & A Publication, 2007, p.158, pl.179.\r\nISBN 9781851775095.\r\n\r\n"},{"reference":{"text":"L'escultura en el temples indis : l'art de la devoció : exposició organitzada per la Fundació \"La Caixa\" i el Victoria & Albert Museum, Londres. [Barcelona: Obra social, Fundació \"la Caixa\", c2007 Number: 9788476649466","id":"AUTH339669"},"details":"p.66, Cat. 31","free":""}],"production":"Kathmandu Valley","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Durga","id":"N741"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"buffalo","id":"x30113"}],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Hinduism","id":"AAT73727"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Durga Slaying Mahisa\r\n800–1000\r\nLate Licchavi/Transitional period\r\nThe Hindu goddess Durga is shown slaying the buffalo demon\r\nMahisa who threatened world order and the authority of the\r\nother gods. The sculpture is an extraordinary example of early\r\nNepalese repoussé skills. In this technique the object is not cast.\r\nInstead, the metalworker works repeatedly from the back and\r\nfront of the metal to create an image in relief.\r\nCopper with traces of gilding\r\nNepal (Kathmandu Valley)\r\nMuseum no. IS.40-1988","date":{"text":"14/06/2011","earliest":"2011-06-14","latest":"2011-06-14"}}],"partNumbers":["IS.40-1988"],"accessionNumberNum":"40","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":1988,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LP5628","2019LP4244","2019LT6263","2019LU4103","2019LU2921","2019LW0232","2020MP1984","2020MP2057","2020MP2201","2020MP2205"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-20","recordCreationDate":"2000-02-13","availableToBook":false}}