CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

Subject: Lajja Gauri: This image of Lajja Gauri is completely anthropomorphic with a human female head and all parts, with legs in uttanapad (birth giving) pose and arms held up to the side. This is a unique image of Lajja Gauri in which she is conjoined to a figure of a frog on the other side. This figure has been identified as a fertility amulet.

Subject: Lajja Gauri: This image of Lajja Gauri is completely anthropomorphic with a human female head and all parts, with legs in uttanapad (birth giving) pose and arms held up to the side. This is a unique image of Lajja Gauri in which she is conjoined to a figure of a frog on the other side. This figure has been identified as a fertility amulet.

Subject: Lajja Gauri: This image of Lajja Gauri is completely anthropomorphic with a human female head and all parts, with legs in uttanapad (birth giving) pose and arms held up to the side. This is a unique image of Lajja Gauri in which she is conjoined to a figure of a frog on the other side. This figure has been identified as a fertility amulet.

Subject: Frog. This is a votive figure of a frog made from dhokra technique. Dhokra is a craft made by the lost-wax casting technique in which a molten metal is poured into a mold that has been created by means of a wax model. This craft has a tribal lineage and flourishes in the tribal belts of Odisha. Side view of the object. This object was procured from State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC).

Subject: Frog. This is a votive figure of a frog made from dhokra technique. Dhokra is a craft made by the lost-wax casting technique in which a molten metal is poured into a mold that has been created by means of a wax model. This craft has a tribal lineage and flourishes in the tribal belts of Odisha. Back view of the object. This object was procured from State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC).

Subject: Banam (Kendra). This instrument has a resonator made of coconut shell covered with frog and bull hide. This instrument is played as a musical accompaniment to dances. This object was procured from Sudir Marndi in Mudrajodi village of Mayurbhanj district.

Subject: Banam (Kendra). This instrument has a resonator made of coconut shell covered with frog and bull hide. This instrument is played as a musical accompaniment to dances. This object was procured from Sudir Marndi in Mudrajodi village of Mayurbhanj district.

Subject: Frog Roof Tile. A specialty terracotta of Bargarh district of Odisha is roof tiles with figures of animals and birds. According to folklore these pieces were necessitated to ward off animals especially monkeys from breaking roof tiles in Odisha’s forest fringe areas. The animals are also considered to be auspicious symbols and believed to bring good luck to the house. The potters draw inspirations from local myths and fashion whimsical animal figures. Roof tiles are often decorated with frogs, which is a sign of the arrival of monsoon.

Subject: Frog Roof Tile. A specialty terracotta of Bargarh district of Odisha is roof tiles with figures of animals and birds. According to folklore these pieces were necessitated to ward off animals especially monkeys from breaking roof tiles in Odisha’s forest fringe areas. The animals are also considered to be auspicious symbols and believed to bring good luck to the house. The potters draw inspirations from local myths and fashion whimsical animal figures. Roof tiles are often decorated with frogs, which is a sign of the arrival of monsoon.

Subject: Frog shaped Paperweight. A decorative and utilitarian stone paper weight carved in the shape of a frog. Odisha’s most recognized craft is stone carving. Odisha’s maharanas (stone carvers) sculpt in stones with simple tools by first outlining the figure on a stone block. The outline is incised to mark the shape of the motif and then the figure is carved. Stone carved sculptures are made for iconic sculptures from Odisha’s temples and idols of Hindu deities. This is an in-house artefact of the State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.

Subject: Story of Pond Frogs