The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of March 29, 2024

Monolithic Pillar

Monolithic Pillar

600s–700s

Description

The central motif of this temple pillar is a pot, out of which vegetal forms exuberantly emerge, indicating bounty and abundance. The pot itself is decorated with lotus petals, leaves, and a band of pearls. The overflowing pot is a pervasive symbol in India to reference the prosperity and productivity that will result from worship and prayers at the holy site. It also symbolizes the auspiciousness and beauty of the created world.
  • ?–1938
    (Heeramaneck Galleries, New York, NY, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)
    1938–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • The Cleveland Museum of Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art Handbook. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1958. Mentioned and Reproduced: cat. no. 751 archive.org
    Czuma, Stanislaw. “Mathura Sculpture in the Cleveland Museum Collection.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art, vol. 64, no. 3, 1977, pp. 83–114. Mentioned and Reproduced: p. 111, fig. 41 25152680
  • India's Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (December 2, 1949-January 22, 1950).
  • {{cite web|title=Monolithic Pillar|url=false|author=|year=600s–700s|access-date=29 March 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1938.14