Accession No
1988.273
Description
Baked clay Molela tablet depicting Ganesh 'Elephant God' (seated on throne).
Place
Asia; South Asia; India; Rajasthan; Sirohi District; Uppalagarh
Period
20th century
Source
Unnithan, Maya [collector]
Department
Anth
Reference Numbers
1988.273
Cultural Affliation
Girahya [Girasia]
Material
Clay; Paint; Metal; Silver Foil; Varnish; Straw.
Local Term
Dev
Measurements
345mm x 455mm x 95mm
Events
Context (Field collection)
Placed in the Temple of Gods (devra); Collected by: Unnithan.Maya in 1987: Molela Clay Tablets are produced by Hindu potters of Molela Village, the only village which produces these tablets; also in S. Rajasthan
Event Date 1987
Author: maa
Description (Physical description)
Molela clay tablet
Event Date 1988
Author: maa
Context (Other)
According to information previously in the 'Source Year' field, The object entered the museum on the 25th of April 1988.
Event Date 25/4/1988
Author: Remke Velden
Context (Related Documents)
Card Catalogue reads: 'Baked clay tablet depicting Ganesh: Elephant God (seated on throne), painted in orange, yellow, etc., with silver foil decoration; Good; Whole; Ganesh; Elephant God'.
Event Date 12/5/1988
Author: maa
Conservation (Remedial)
CON.2016.3498 | Remedial
Event Date 12/8/2016
Author: Rachel Howie
Exhibition (Li Ka Shing Gallery)
EXH.2017.2 | Another India: Explorations and Expressions of Indigenous South Asia
Event Date 8/3/2017
Author: Remke Velden
Description (Display)
'Another India: Explorations and Expressions of Indigenous South Asia' 07/03/2017 - 22/04/2018 MAA exhibition label text reads:
Gods and heroes of the Girasia
The Girasia of southern Rajasthan share elements of Bhil culture, live in forest areas and speak a language that is part of the Bhil group. Many resist identification with Bhils, however, and the label ‘Adivasi’ altogether. The Girasia artefacts at MAA show a negotiation between ‘tribal’ and ‘non-tribal.’
Hilltop shrines called devra, maintained by kin groups, house clay tablets depicting folk heroes, Hindu gods
and ‘tribal’ deities. The shrines face the direction ‘from which the gods come’: the town of Molela where these plaques are made by Hindu artisans, highlighting the entanglement of people across boundaries of identity.
5. Ganesh
Ganesh, or Ganesa, is an extremely popular Hindu deity throughout India, particularly the north and west. He is a key character in the Rathwa legend of Pithora, and revered by Bhils, Rajputs and other groups.
Bhil. Molela, Rajasthan
Collected by Maya Unnithan, 1987
1988.273
Event Date 8/3/2017
Author: remke Velden
Description (Physical description)
Baked clay Molela tablet depicting the Hindu deity Ganesh, the 'Elephant God'. He is depicted seated on a throne, painted in orange, yellow, etc., with silver foil decoration. In the hands of Ganesh are a goad, brown beads, a green water vessel and a chakra wheel. Ganesh is depicted seated underneath an arch decorated with flowers.
Event Date 26/11/2018
Author: ashleigh griffin
FM:80115
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