Object Details
Artist
M. Palaniappan (India, born 1949)
Provenance
1985-1986
M. Palaniappan (b. 1949), Sathiyamangalam, Tamil Nadu, India [1]
1986-1986
The Indian Advisory Committee for the Festival of India and the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Government of India, method of acquisition unknown [2]
From 1986
National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, gift of the Indian Advisory Committee for the Festival of India and the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Government of India [3]
Notes:
[1] This object was made by M. Palaniappan and was included in the exhibition, “Aditi: A Celebration of Life,” June 4-July 28, 1985, at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. The exhibition was organized for the Government of India’s “Festival of India, 1985-1986” in the United States. The exhibition was included as a part of the Smithsonian Institution’s “Festival of American Folklife,” June 26-30, 1985/July 3-7, 1985.
M. Palaniappan (b. 1949) is a potter, priest, and farmer from Sathiyamangalam, Tamil Nadu, India, known for his ritual festival figures of horses, elephants, and bulls. From a young age M. Palaniappan began training with his father, Mathu Karuppa Velar, and he also attended a craft school in India. In addition to creating festival sculptures, M. Palaniappan also produces sculptures and vessels for the All India Handicraft Board for exhibition and works by commission from customers from across India. He participated in the Festival of India in India (1979) and in London (1982) and he appeared in the BBC-2 documentary, “The Sacred Horses of Tamil Nadu” (aired July 9, 1982). His work has been exhibited at the Craft Museum in New Delhi, and works may be found in the collection of the Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse, NY, and the Honolulu Museum of Art School.
[2] See note 1.
[3] See “Deed of Gift to the Arthur M. Sacker Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution,” dated October 13, 1986, copy in object file.
From 1986-2023 this work was part of the National Museum of Asian Art’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection and on March 21, 2023, the work was internally transferred to the National Museum of Asian Art Collection.
Research updated August 5, 2024
Collection
National Museum of Asian Art Collection
Previous custodian or owner
Indian Advisory Committee for the Festival of India
Credit Line
Gift of the Indian Advisory Committee for the Festival of India and the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Government of India
Date
1985
Accession Number
S1986.544
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
Sculpture
Medium
Fired earthenware Wheel-thrown and modeled
Dimensions
H (overall): 110 cm (43 5/16 in)
Origin
Sathiyamangalam, Tamil Nadu state, India
See more items in
National Museum of Asian Art
Data Source
National Museum of Asian Art
Topic
ceramic
elephant
India
earthenware
South Asian and Himalayan Art
Contemporary Art
Link to Original Record
Record ID
fsg_S1986.544