A BRONZE PECTORAL PLAQUE DEPICTING HANUMAN, BAJRANG BALI, 18TH CENTURY
Western India, Maharashtra or Karnataka. Finely cast, the circular plaque depicts a striding Hanuman, who carries in his left hand the healing plant (sanjivani buti), walking above an armed figure lying prone. The leafy plant hangs down to his knees, twisting back behind his body. The outer frame serves as a circular mandala with a band of stylized flames (prabhavala) and rosettes, enclosed by a rope-like border formed by the tails of two peacocks at the top, centered by a seven-headed hooded cobra hovering over a figure of Krishna dancing atop Hanuman’s head. The mandorla further with sun and moon symbols. The back is cast with a vertical loop for mounting.


Provenance:
From a private collection in London, United Kingdom. The stand with an old label, ‘India. Hanuman. In wheel of rosettes and seeds with peacock terminals. Nagas and Krishna.’

Condition:
Very good condition with minor old wear and expected casting flaws, small nicks, light scratches, minor dents.

Weight: 751 g (excl. stand) and 1,084 g (incl. stand)
Dimensions: Height 22.9 cm (excl. stand) and 26.3 cm (incl. stand)

With a fitted modern stand. (2)


The scene depicted on this plaque recalls an episode in the Indian Ramayana epic
when Hanuman flew through the air to bring a healing, medicinal herb (sanjivani buti) to the wounded Rama and his army. The small figure below Hanuman’s feet could be Lakshmana, the brother of Rama, who was wounded during the battle. As a divine being, Hanuman has the power to augment or diminish his size at will, and so he grows to such a stature that he can span the ocean with a single stride. This unique ability, according to myth, enabled the god to rescue Rama.


Expert’s note:
Known as a bajrang bali (strong monkey), this distinctive type of pectoral plaque depicts Hanuman, The Divine Monkey. It is worn suspended around the neck by Vaishnava ascetics devoted to Hanuman, in the regions of Karnataka and Maharashtra.


Literature comparison:

Compare a closely related bronze circular plaque depicting Hanuman mid stride, 21 cm high, dated 18th-19th century, in the British Museum, registration number 1853,0108.8. Compare a closely related plaque depicting Hanuman mid stride, 23 cm high, dated to the 16th century, in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, accession number M.87.160.1. Compare a related bronze circular plaque depicting Hanuman, 6.75 cm high, dated 17th-18th century, in the British Museum, registration number 1940,0716.323.