Material Bronze/Copper | Period/culture c. 5th or 6th century Present location Pakistan | |
Size Height: 95 cmWidth: 53 cmDepth: 24 cm | ||
The Brahma from Mirpur Khas is a famous bronze image of the Brahma made in Sindh, in modern Pakistan, dated to the 5th or 6th century, during the Gupta period. It is the earliest known metallic image of Lord Brahma and the only known representative if the school it represents. It has been described as "an immense artistic creation" of the Gupta period.
Contents
It was found in a field near Mirpur-Khas as first reported by Henry Cousens in 1929. Some report it as having been found at Brahmanabad.
Description
The four-headed Brahma bronze statue has a height over 3 feet. Lord Brahma is shown standing with two hands, wearing a dhoti and a yajnopavita but without any ornaments.Vasudeva Sharana Agrawala calls it "an exceptionally good specimen of the art of metal-casting in this period". Śrīrāma and Śaṅkara Goyala term is "true memorial of Gupta metalsmith's artistic genius". It is said to the best example of Gupta art in Sindh.
The object suggests that Sindh was a major center of metalworking.
It used to be at the Karachi Museum, but it is reported that it is no longer there.
Comparison with related art
Brahma from Mirpur Khas has been widely used by art historians for comparison with other artwork of historical significance.