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Lot 21

 

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Polychrome terracotta

Madurai, c. 1850

19.5 x 8 x 6 in (48.75 x 20 x 15 cm)


This figure is an excellent representation of the devdasi tradition. Devdasis, or servants of god, were women who served and venerated gods in Hindu temples. They were skilled dancers and musicians.

The present devdasi is wearing a red choli or bodice, a pair of tight trousers and a saree. She is standing in a typical bharatanarayam pose, the sundari gesture, where the right hand is raised towards the dancer's face while the head moves left to right. The figure is beautifully adorned with jewelry which is typical of 19th/ 20th century devdasi women. She is wearing a three part head band with forehead pendant (thalaikkachchu), large earrings on the lobes (thodu) with hanging dome-shaped parts (jhumki), a braid ornament (jadanagam) attached to the back of her head, U-shaped armlets (vanki), a tight waist belt (oddiyanam) and ankle bells (salangai).

The extreme attention to detail in this figure, from the costume and accessories to the facial expression and posture makes it almost real.

Similar devdasi sculptures may be seen in the permanent collection of the Asian Civilisation Museum of Singapore (Acc. No. 2000.3322, 2000.3323).

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