{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O72430"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O72430/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AH2997/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AH2997/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AH2997","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FE4405","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FE4406","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O72430/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O72430","accessionNumber":"IM.159-1929","objectType":"Figure","titles":[{"title":"Vishnu reclining on the serpent Shesha","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"A reclining figure of Vishnu lying on the coils of the serpent, Shesha, at the beginning of a cosmic cycle. Shesha's five heads spread out above the head of the god. His right hand supports his conical headress while the left arm is stretched out along his body with his hand being lifted up by his consort, Shridevi, who sits with his other consort, Bhudevi, at his feet, holding a lotus blossom. A lotus blossom on a stalk rises up behind him with Brahma perched on top. A shallow base has a tier of lotus petals and in the centre at the front there is a kneeling figure of Garuda.\n\n'At the beginning of a cosmic cycle Vishnu is shown reclining on the serpent Shesha (also called Ananta). Vishnu sleeps on Shesha's coils during the intervals in the cycles of creation.   The sepent's  five heads rise above the god's head.  Vishnu has only two hands so no attributes, a varient known on other recling images. The goddesses Lakshmi and Bhudevi are also shown, and his vehicle Garuda kneels at the front of the image, perhaps massaging him.  The form of headdress Vishnu wears is the characteristic semi-cylindrical mitre with a flattened knob on top (kirtimukuta) and the goddesses' headdresses have a style associated with female deities having a conical shape and a more complicated top (karandamukuta).A tiny figure of Brahma sits on top of the lotus flower rising from Vishnu's navel.  The two consorts of Vishnu sit behind his legs, perhaps massaging him.  Garuda kneels on the front of the base, which shows no indication of ever having a separatae arch.\nCopper colour and quite good quality, moderate wear.'","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"bronze","id":"AAT10957"}],"techniques":[{"text":"casting","id":"AAT53104"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Cast bronze","categories":[{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"},{"text":"Hinduism","id":"THES48941"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2006AH2997","2012FE4405","2012FE4406"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES372052"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Figure","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Tanjore","id":"x32011"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"probably"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"late 18th century-early 19th century","earliest":"1750-01-01","latest":"1850-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Width","value":"14.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"64","unit":"g","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"975","unit":"g","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Given by  Hon. Sir Arthur Lawley","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Bronze figure: Vishnu reclining on the serpent Shesha. South India, early 19th century.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Mitchell, A.G. 'Hindu Gods and Goddesses.' London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982. Plate 27.  ISBN 011290372X"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Vishnu","id":"N746"},{"text":"Ananta","id":"N1099"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Hinduism","id":"AAT73727"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["IM.159-1929"],"accessionNumberNum":"159","accessionNumberPrefix":"IM","accessionYear":1929,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-24","recordCreationDate":"2003-01-02","availableToBook":true}}