111 - SEATED BRONZE PARVATI INDIA 16TH CENTURY

SEATED BRONZE PARVATI INDIA 16TH CENTURY Dimensions: Height 7 cm Wide 5 cm Depth 4 cm Weight: 197 grams A small bronze figure of Parvati sits on a tall rectangular throne with a crisply incised diamond pattern across its front. One leg folds onto the seat while the other extends down its side, breaking the frontal symmetry. Her serene face is framed by long earrings and an arranged coiffure; she wears a necklace, armlets and a close-fitting garment. One raised hand holds a short cylindrical attribute, while the other rests across her knee. The deep brown patina is enlivened by lighter rubbed areas. Parvati, the consort of Shiva, is an important embodiment of the benevolent divine feminine in Hindu tradition, associated with devotion, fertility and the family. Images of seated goddesses often convey dignity through a relaxed posture rather than overt movement, and this figure's easy asymmetry gives it particular warmth. Listed as Indian and sixteenth century, the bronze is notable for the confident treatment of its compact body and the unusually prominent, patterned throne.