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Hindu Hook-Swinging Ceremony in Honor of Mariamman – Engraving, 1806

$340.84
£252.65
€290VAT Included
CA$475.42
A$483.59
CHF 277.53
MX$5,813.27
NOK 3,237.37
SEK 3,267.84
DKK 2,211.37

About the Item

Hindu Hook-Swinging Ceremony in Honor of Mariamman – Engraving, 1806 This dramatic engraving titled “Fête Quédi, en Honneur de Mariatal, Déesse de la petite Vérole” portrays an intense religious ritual in South India known as hook-swinging, performed in honor of the goddess Mariamman. At the center of the scene, a devotee is suspended in mid-air by hooks pierced into the skin of his back and attached to a large pivoted beam. He swings in a circular motion above the ground, holding a curved blade and a ritual object, while a group of onlookers dressed in traditional attire observes with reverence. The ceremony depicted here is linked to the worship of Mariamman, a South Indian folk deity associated with protection against diseases like smallpox. Such festivals involved acts of physical endurance and ritual pain, offered in devotion or penance. The practice of hook-swinging, though later outlawed during colonial rule, was once widespread in Tamil Nadu and surrounding regions, particularly during temple festivals. The engraving originates from the 1806 edition of *Voyage aux Indes Orientales et à la Chine* by Pierre Sonnerat (1745–1814), a French naturalist and explorer who documented Indian customs, religious practices, and everyday life during his travels. The engraving was executed by Jean-Baptiste-Marie Poisson (1747–1820), based on Sonnerat’s original drawings. This powerful and rare early Western depiction of a now-defunct ritual offers valuable insight into regional religious expression and early European ethnographic interest. It is a compelling piece for collectors of South Indian iconography, colonial-era documentation, or cultural anthropology in visual art. Condition report: Good condition overall. Fold at center as issued, with some darkening and small stains along the crease. Light age-related toning and spotting, mostly in the margins. Strong plate impression. Framing tips: A simple dark frame with a wide mat in beige or cream will highlight the dramatic central motion of the figure and provide contrast to the aged paper tone. Technique: Engraving Maker: J.-B.-M. Poisson after Pierre Sonnerat, Paris, 1806
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 11.23 in (28.5 cm)Width: 15.36 in (39 cm)Depth: 0.01 in (0.2 mm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Paper,Engraved
  • Place of Origin:
    France
  • Period:
    1800-1809
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1806
  • Condition:
    Good condition overall. Fold at center as issued, with some darkening and small stains along the crease. Light age-related toning and spotting, mostly in the margins. Strong plate impression.
  • Seller Location:
    Langweer, NL
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: BG-13429-651stDibs: LU3054346087272

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