A large Indian bronze of the highly revered Hindu deity, Nataraja, Shiva in dancing form. A lost wax casting with aged patination from decades of ritual worship. Early 20th. Perhaps earlier?
In Nataraja, Shiva is shown as the source of all movement within the cosmos. Closely associated with the sacred Chola temple of Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu, IMAGES 2, 21 & 22, Dancing Shiva, hailed by the French Sculptor Auguste Rodin as the perfect embodiment of rhythmic movement, has become a symbol for the 1000 year old Chola dynasty.
In this bronze Nataraja, Shiva stands serene and assured, master of the universe within a circular aureole framed with 24 five-tipped flames representing the oscillating universe. Shiva rests his right foot on the back of the dwarfish demonic figure of Mushalagan, representing the darkness and ignorance to be overcome, who meekly raises his head to look up at the Lord.
The matted locks of Shiva's hair stand out in many strands as he whirls around in his dancing frenzy. The river Ganga, personified as a goddess, flows gently from the heavens down to earth in Shiva's hair, symbolizing the flow of divine grace.
This bronze comes to us from an important British, single owner collection, though would have started life in 20th c. Tamil Nadi, Southern India, more specifically in Swamimalai, the centre of lost wax bronze casting.
Nataraja bronzes of all sizes have been sculpted there to the same exacting standards for over a thousand years. IMAGES 23 & 24. Including the famous Nataraja gifted by the Indian Govt. to CERN in Geneva, home of the Large Hadron Collider.
Thanjavur Art Gallery has perhaps the definitive collection of Nataraja bronzes on display, as shown in the last image.
Please look carefully at the photographs as they form part of the description. Other Nataraja bronzes are sometimes available in separate listings.
Height: 30 cms. Width: 26.5 cms. Depth: 8 cms. Weight: 2.04 Kgs.
Price: £225.00. ANTIQUE QUARTZITE COLUMN HEAD AND RELATED TEMPLE PARAPHERNALIA FOR DISPLAY, AND NOT INCLUDED.
Postage: £14.95. UK mainland dispatch by ParcelForce 48 tracked and signed for courier service. For overseas dispatch refer to details of eBay's GSP, Global Shipping Programme, by clicking on SEE DETAILS in the postage section under the BUY IT NOW button.
SKU number: 12760.
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