LACMA

ShopMembershipMyLACMATickets
LACMA
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
info@lacma.org
(323) 857-6000
Sign up to receive emails
Subscribe
© Museum Associates 2026
  • About LACMA
  • Jobs
  • Host An Event
  • Unframed
  • Press
  • FAQs
  • Log in to MyLACMA
  • Privacy Policy
© Museum Associates 2026
Collections

Unknown
Plaque with Shiva linga and Worshipperdated 1068

Not on view
Circular bronze plaque with green patina, featuring concentric decorative border rings and a central relief scene of a tiered altar on a lotus base with a standing figure
Close-up of a bronze surface with green patina, showing incised Indic script inscription across a flat recessed panel, bordered by a raised beaded edge.
Close-up detail of a gilt bronze surface with an incised inscription in an Indic script, surrounded by raised decorative borders; green patina over gold tones across the textured metal.
Close-up of a gilt bronze repoussé plaque with green patina, showing a central figure with a ushnisha surrounded by smaller figures and raised bosses; lines of Indic script in incised inscription above.

Unknown, Plaque with Shiva linga and Worshipper, dated 1068, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Purchased with funds provided by Harry and Yvonne Lenart, photo © Museum Associates/LACMA

Artist or Maker
Unknown
Title
Plaque with Shiva linga and Worshipper
Place Made
Nepal
Date Made
dated 1068
Medium
Repoussé gilt unalloyed copper
Dimensions
Diameter: 9 3/4 in. (24.77 cm)
Credit Line
Purchased with funds provided by Harry and Yvonne Lenart
Accession Number
M.85.125
Classification
Sculpture
Collecting Area
South and Southeast Asian Art
Curatorial Notes

This repoussé gilt copper alloy roundel with pearl and lotiform borders depicts an elaborate Shivalinga (literally, the "sign" of Shiva) inset into a circular and tiered base symbolizing the female principle (yoni pitha). It is set under an honorific parasol (chattra) supported by a floral archway. An ascetic with piled hair (jata mukuta) carrying a waterpot (kamandalu) makes an offering.

A devanagari inscription on the roundel’s plain inner area describes several types of donations, including the "umbrella of flowers." It furnishes a date of (Nepal samvat) 188, corresponding to 1068 CE, and mentions a king of the Thakuri Dynasty (circa 600-circa 1200) of central Nepal, Arjunadeva (also known as Nagarjunadeva). (See Ian Alsop, "Repousse in Nepal," Orientations 17: 7 (July 1986), p. 18, Fig. 5.)

See also M.80.187 and M.84.124.1.

Selected Bibliography
  • Reedy, Chandra L. Himalayan Bronzes: Technology, Style and Choices. Newark: University of Delaware Press, 1997.