A LARGE AND RARE KONDH TRIBAL BRONZE OF A TIGER MAULING A HUMAN FIGURE
A LARGE AND RARE KONDH TRIBAL BRONZE OF A TIGER MAULING A HUMAN FIGURE
Copper bronze
Eastern India, Kondh Tribe, late 19th – early 20th century
This bronze belongs to the rare group that depict tigers mauling human figures. The exact reasons for this subject are unknown, but it is assumed that because the Kondh were in such close contact with nature, regular encounters with tigers was nothing out of the ordinary. This bronze probably served the purpose of a warning to other tribe members, but also as a show of respect for the animal. This tiger is very large in respect to the male human figure in its mouth. It is also depicted majestically and somewhat playful, though with sharp claws. It is a rare insight of how the Kondh tribe viewed nature, even the predators which endangered their lives.
Dimensions: 11.5 x 20 x 4.7 CM (H x W x L)
Condition: Good condition, one of the claws is lost and minor damages around the leg
Provenance: Galerie Zacke archive