Jain Bronzes from Karnataka: Some Art Historical and Technical Aspects

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of selected art historical and archaeometallurgical aspects in the study of Jaina bronzes from Karnataka. Despite the relative paucity of studies on Jaina bronzes from the Deccan region and Karnataka it is pointed out that these form a significant body of bronzes for study also from an archaeometallurgical perspective. This is partly because they are often inscribed (unlike most Hindu images) which provides some sounder basis for chronological attributions. It is illustrated here that archaeometallurgical studies and lead isotope finger-printing in particular, have potential for throwing further insights into the questions of dates, stylistic attribution and provenance of Jaina bronzes and those from the Deccan and Karnataka. In particular, the case of certain bronzes which show affiliation with Chola and western Indian bronzes are touched upon, as well as the case of an inscribed Jaina image from Karnataka which may represent Ambika or Saraswati, for which the 9th-10th century attribution is also supported from lead isotope fingerprinting studies.