India: A large ‘Shiva lingam’ made of stone, light grey and red.
The ‘Shiva lingam’, also called ‘Brahmanda egg’ or ‘world egg’, is the symbol of the Hindu god, Shiva. This god, also called the ‘destroyer’, represents becoming and decaying in the eternal cycle of nature in the Hindu religion. The abstract symbol for the god, Shiva, is his ‘lingam’, an egg-shaped, polished stone placed at the centre of every Shiva temple in India. It is regularly washed and decorated by priests and worshipped by believers. In its clear form, the ‘lingam’ symbolises ‘male tranquillity’, whilst the signs in contrasting colours on the surface of the stone can be interpreted as ‘female disquiet’. Popular belief regards the erect form of the ‘lingam’ as the symbol of the god’s phallus, while the colourful inclusions can be interpreted as its female counterpart. The present ‘Shiva lingam’ is large, made of elegant, light grey stone and displays three beautiful, deep red inclusions. First half of the 20th century; H: 28 cm. (ME)
Provenance: Austrian private collection.
Additional picture:
A Brahman (priest) during the ritual washing of a Shiva lingam in an Indian Shiva temple.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
05.11.2014 - 13:00
- Estimate:
-
EUR 3,000.- to EUR 4,000.-
India: A large ‘Shiva lingam’ made of stone, light grey and red.
The ‘Shiva lingam’, also called ‘Brahmanda egg’ or ‘world egg’, is the symbol of the Hindu god, Shiva. This god, also called the ‘destroyer’, represents becoming and decaying in the eternal cycle of nature in the Hindu religion. The abstract symbol for the god, Shiva, is his ‘lingam’, an egg-shaped, polished stone placed at the centre of every Shiva temple in India. It is regularly washed and decorated by priests and worshipped by believers. In its clear form, the ‘lingam’ symbolises ‘male tranquillity’, whilst the signs in contrasting colours on the surface of the stone can be interpreted as ‘female disquiet’. Popular belief regards the erect form of the ‘lingam’ as the symbol of the god’s phallus, while the colourful inclusions can be interpreted as its female counterpart. The present ‘Shiva lingam’ is large, made of elegant, light grey stone and displays three beautiful, deep red inclusions. First half of the 20th century; H: 28 cm. (ME)
Provenance: Austrian private collection.
Additional picture:
A Brahman (priest) during the ritual washing of a Shiva lingam in an Indian Shiva temple.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
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| Auction: | Tribal Art |
| Auction type: | Saleroom auction |
| Date: | 05.11.2014 - 13:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 31.10. - 05.11.2014 |