London - A World City in 20 Objects: No. 9 Shiva Nataraja, the God Shiva Dancing in a Ring of Flames

LONDON EVENING STANDARD
By Richard Blurton

Bronze, Chola period, c.1100AD, from the Thanjavur region of Tamil Nadu, south India

UNITED KINDGOM---At a time when sculpture in bronze is in the public eye in London at the Royal Academy, it is salutary to view an example from 1,000 years ago from a tradition that many people believe to be one of the greatest, both in terms of beauty and technical mastery. This tradition of lost-wax casting continues in southern India today with images being cast for Hindu devotees all over the world. Lord Shiva is depicted in this famous dance form as the deity at the extremes of time — the lord who crushes ignorance underfoot and who ushers out one cycle of existence and dances in a new one. On permanent display in Room 33, British Museum, WC1 (020 7323 8299, britishmuseum.org). Open Sat-Thurs 10am-5.30pm, Fri 10am-8.30pm, admission free. [link]