2010.6 Nandi

Nandi, or Nandin, means "the joyous one." This young bull is the mount of the god Shiva. Like the god, the bull is shown as still youthful, with immature horns. Also like Shiva, he looks radiant and loveable. To Hindus, Nandi is part of Shiva's family, like the children of Shiva and his wife, Parvati. In a temple dedicated to Shiva, sculptures of Nandi would face the main shrine as guardians. 

India (nation): TGN: 7000198

granite (rock): AAT: 300011183

direct carving: AAT: 300053150

thirteenth century (dates CE): AAT: 300404505

bulls (animals): AAT: 300250117

families: AAT: 300055474

Hinduism: AAT: 300073727

protection: AAT: 300164923

religious objects: AAT: 300234098

sculpture: AAT: 300047090

Shiva (Hindu deity): DMA

Temples: AAT: 300007595

youth (life stages): AAT: 300305226

Before 1970-2009: Mr. and Mrs. Paul E. Manheim, New York [1] 

2009: David T. Owsley, purchased at auction, "Indian and Southeast Asian Art," Christie's, New York, September 16, 2009, lot 758, as "An Important Black Granite Figure of Nandi" [2] 

From 2010: Dallas Museum of Art, the Cecil and Ida Green Acquisition Fund and gift of David T. Owsley via the Alvin and Lucy Owsley Foundation

The main source for this provenance is the letter from Carol Griffin of the Dallas Museum of Art to David T. Owsley dated April 8, 2010, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records object file. Exceptions and supporting documentation are noted. 

[1] See the catalogue Indian and Southeast Asian Art, Wednesday 16 September 2009, Christie's, page 31, excerpt in object file. 

[2] See the invoice from Christie's, New York, to David T. Owsley, dated September 16, 2009, copy in object file 

Apply to objects where number equals 2010.6