The Shilpi Tradition

The Shilpi (a Sanskrit word meaning "sculptor") School of South Indian sculpture has a history that dates back over 1400 years. The Shilpis are the ancestors of the artisans of the ancient and powerful Indian dynasty known as the Pallavas, a line of kings that, among other social, cultural, and political accomplishments, were renowned for their tradition of magnificent rock-cut sculpture.

This tradition, which began largely with the artistic inspirations of King Mahendravarman I (ca. 600-630) and his son Narasimhavarman (ca. 630-660), included enormous and extraordinary monolithic temples as well as smaller and exquisitely crafted images of the Gods and Goddesses of Ancient India. The most legendary Pallavan sculpture is the famous relief known as the "Great Penance." Created on the face of a single granite outcropping in the Tamil seacoast town Mamallapuram in the mid-7th century, this bas-relief is the largest in the world.

Today, the Shilpis carry on the tradition of their ancestors, principally through the creation of marble sculpture, as displayed in our collection. For over 1400 years, these artists have honed all stages of their craft to breathtaking perfection, from the early stage of pre-visualizing the raw stone to the remarkable finishing detail that is the trademark of the Shilpi tradition. Shilpi sculpture, having enjoyed national renown within the borders of India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka for centuries, has been utilized principally as temple murtis (worshipped images) throughout the subcontinent. Though tourists have commissioned pieces from the Shilpis for decades, in 2001 Christopher Tompkins became one of the first admirer to introduce their sculpture to the United States as part of an art collection. Now, for the first time you can experience this inspiring and sublime connection for yourself by adding a beautiful Serpi stone sculpture to your art collection or meditation shrine at home.

Our Vision  

Christopher Tompkins first began to study Indian sculpture at Harvard University in the late 1990s. A central focus of his research became the renowned rock-cut temple carving tradition of the South Indian based Pallava dynasty, dating from the 6th—10th centuries c.e. His second Master’s Degree (U.C. Berkeley), entitled The Mystery of the Great Penance Relief: God-Kings in Stone, documents the intriguing set of circumstances that lie behind the creation of the most famous and enigmatic creation of the Pallava Kings. 

After traveling to this region, he discovered that the remaining descendants of these celebrated Pallavan artists are still creating masterpieces out of stone, using the same time-tested techniques of quarrying, carving, and finishing that were mastered by their ancestors. Intent on developing a living wage for these talented artists, many of whom are dalits (of the ‘outcaste’ communities), Christopher began importing Shilpi sculpture in 2001 to enthusiastic buyers, and has since expanded his collection to include exquisite South Indian bronze sculpture, ornate Indian textiles, white cedar sculpture, and a gallery of unique South and East Asian antiquities. 

Christopher holds a Master’s Degree in Religion from Harvard University, a Master’s Degree in Sanskrit from the University of California, Berkeley, and is currently working on a PhD entitled The Tantric Origins of Hatha Yoga. He travels to India frequently and personally hand picks each and every sculpture in the collection. 
 

© 2007 by Christopher Tompkins. Not to be used without express permission by the author.