An antique Southern Indian folk or tribal bronze of the Hindu god Vishnu. A significant lost wax casting with aged patination from decades, if not centuries of ritual handling. 19th c. Possibly earlier
Vishnu is a major Hindu deity and one of the principle gods in the Hindu Trimurti, along with Brahma and Shiva. He is known as the preserver and protector of the universe, responsible for maintaining cosmic order and balance.
Depicted here in two arm form, he is holding conch shells, classic attributes to Vishnu.The headgear, tall bun, large earrings, narrow waist and lower-body drapery also align with Vaishnavite imagery.
This Indian lost wax bronze sculpture may well have been part of a divine pair, alongside a similar sculpture of Lakshmi and would have been richly adorned with real silk, jewelry, and garlands during worship.
The rounded facial features, prominent nose and stylised eyes are consistent with tribal or folk devotional art, especially
from Tamil Nadu villages in the Thanjavur / Kumbakonam region.
This beautifully rendered bronze dates to the 18th century, perhaps even earlier. Please look carefully at the photographs as they form part of the description.
In a similar vein, we have an antique bronze of Parvati available in a separate listing. SHOWN TOGETHER IN THE LAST TWO IMAGES.
Height: 14 cms. Diameter of base: 4.5 cms. Weight: 0.23 Kgs.
Price: £65.00. ANTIQUE GREEN QUARTZITE COLUMN HEAD FOR DISPLAY ONLY AND NOT INCLUDED.
Postage: £6.00. UK mainland dispatch by Royal Mail 2nd Class 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: 12794.
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