Engraved Hindu/Buddhist Conch or Trumpet Shell

Engraved Ritual Conch or Trumpet Shell

India or Sri Lanka

19th century

length: 19cm, weight: 888g

This conch or trumpet shell has been converted into an actual trumpet with the removal of the end to provide a blowing hole. The exterior has been engraved with a lotus motif. The shell, from an old English collection, has an excellent patina from years of ritual use.

Such shells are important ritual objects in Hinduism. They are used as ceremonial trumpets in puja (prayer) rituals.

Warriors in ancient India blew conch shells to announce the commencement of battle. This is described in the famous Indian epic, the Mahabharata.

The conch, as a motif, often is associated with Vishnu. Vishnu’s conch attribute, the Panchajanya, represents life. The god often is portrayed holding a conch, and images of Vishnu in temples sometimes have an actual conch-trumpet placed at his feet.

This example most probably dates to the 19th century and is from South India or the (Hindu) Tamil community of Sri Lanka.

Provenance

UK art market

Inventory no.: 1257

SOLD

A wall painting at Potgul Magila Vihara monastery, central Sri Lanka, showing a pilgrim with a trumpet shell horn.

An eighteenth century cave wall painting depicting a trumpet shell blower, Sigiriya, central Sri Lanka.

A conch shell at the base of a large image of Vishnu at the Lakatilake Vihara (temple), near Kandy, central Sri Lanka.