42 - SEATED GANESHA BRONZE INDIA 18TH CENTURY

SEATED GANESHA BRONZE INDIA 18TH CENTURY Dimensions: Height 22,4 cm Wide 10 cm Depth 10 cm Weight: 1118 grams A substantial bronze image of Ganesha seated within an elaborate architectural shrine, the elephant-headed god shown with a rounded belly and multiple arms beneath a high ornamental arch. The composition is unusually animated by the prominent bird-like mount or attendant in front of the throne and by the stepped, projecting base. Contrasting golden and reddish-brown tones accentuate the chased ornament and the layered construction. Ganesha is among the most widely revered Hindu deities, invoked at the beginning of undertakings as the remover of obstacles and patron of wisdom and prosperity. Portable bronzes placed the deity in an intimate devotional setting, while shrine-like surrounds transformed the small sculpture into a complete sacred ensemble. The present work has a particularly strong vertical silhouette, rising from the broad pedestal through the attendant figure to the foliate crest above Ganesha. Surface wear and ritual accretions soften the details while preserving the lively character of the casting.